Valorization of new High Added Value Compounds (HAVC) from European vine and wine production solid wastes – technological, economical and social issues – VALUXTRACT

The extraction yield of bio-active compounds from plant materials is influenced mainly by the process of extraction. The traditional extraction technique employs large amounts of solvents. New processes such as Pulsed Electric Fields, High Voltage Electric Discharges and Subcritical Water Extraction could increase the extraction of the valuable products without organic solvent.
The aim of the project is the valorization of the grape solid wastes with green processes to produce high added value compounds for different applications: extraction and purification of polyphenols from vinification wastes for cosmetic, pharmaceutical and agro-food industries; extraction of polyphenols and aromatic compounds from wood wastes (grape shoots, barrels and chips) for wine or food flavor industries. The main scientific goals to be pursued to achieve the general objective of this project can be resumed as follows:
• Evaluation of the feasibility of green processes for the extraction of valuable compounds.
The aim of the research is the use of PEF, HEVD and SWE to intensify the extraction of soluble phenolic compounds. The identification of the best set parameters for each process will be defined to optimize the extraction yield of the valuable compounds from products (organic wastes and wood wastes). Quantitative efficiency, qualitative composition of the various extracts, antioxidant activities , aroma composition and physical and chemical properties will be determined. All these parameters will be compared to those obtained with a conventional extraction process. The second part of the work is to apply the optimal settings, found at the laboratory scale, in continuous pilot plant scale. Liquid extracts of polyphenols will be used for purification by membrane filtration or purification on Amberlite resins.
• Purification and fractionation of the extracts
The purification of the extracts will be performed, in order to obtain extracts highly concentrated in valuable compounds. The first step is the elimination of the suspended solids potentially awkward for the purification, by microfiltration. Then, the fractionation and the enrichment of the extracts in valuable compounds will be performed by membrane processes such as ultrafiltration or nanofiltration. If necessary, a final purification step will be performed by with chromatographic techniques. The conditions of drying and pulverizing (UBS, UTC/ESCOM) will also be studied. Solubility, organoleptic and nutritional quality of the different extracts will be assessed in model solutions and in real products.
• Cost, environmental, economic and social analysis for the valorization of the new compounds
This part will evaluate the eco-innovation of the high added value compounds.
The first aim managed by EIC is the evaluation of the production solid wastes: cluster stems, pomaces and vine shoots on various grapes varieties. The study with 15 grape varieties is considered; A second aim of this part is the evaluation of these processes on the environment, particularly the cycle of the carbon thru the organic matter. This analysis will evaluate the effects of the harvest of vine shoots on the rate of organic matter in the soils and compare the effect on soil structure of organic matter from green cover and of organic matter from vine shoots. The sustainability of the process on organic matter will be evaluated. Finally, costs (work + transport) of solid waste will be evaluated. The UBS will take in charge the environmental evaluation by calculation of the different green processes carbon footprint and with a life cycle analysis of each of them, with adapted LCA software. To evaluate the social issues, blind – and informed liking test will be performed for measuring the socio-economic impact of using products resulting from recycling or environmental-friendly processes.