algae:food:extraction_solvents
Differences
This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.
| Next revision | Previous revision | ||
| algae:food:extraction_solvents [2026-06-23 08:51] – created robert | algae:food:extraction_solvents [2026-06-23 10:38] (current) – [Solvents not on the permitted list] robert | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Line 13: | Line 13: | ||
| ==== Principal Legal Act ==== | ==== Principal Legal Act ==== | ||
| - | European Parliament and Council Directive 2009/32/EC of 23 April 2009 on the approximation of the laws of the member states on extraction solvents used in the production of foodstuffs and food ingredients, | + | European Parliament and Council Directive 2009/32/EC of 23 April 2009 on the approximation of the laws of the member states on extraction solvents used in the production of foodstuffs and food ingredients, |
| - | + | ||
| - | __Note on EUR-Lex link:__ This is the current consolidated Directive. Search EUR-Lex for CELEX: | + | |
| __Relevance to algae:__ This Directive establishes the exhaustive positive list of substances that may be used as extraction solvents in the production of foods or food ingredients, | __Relevance to algae:__ This Directive establishes the exhaustive positive list of substances that may be used as extraction solvents in the production of foods or food ingredients, | ||
| Line 31: | Line 29: | ||
| === Permitted solvents commonly used for algal extracts === | === Permitted solvents commonly used for algal extracts === | ||
| - | * __Water__ and __ethanol__ (food-grade ethyl alcohol) — listed in the Directive as permitted for use with no specific maximum residue level, provided they meet purity criteria. These are the broadest-use solvents and the most commercially relevant for producers seeking easy regulatory compliance; ethanol extraction is used extensively in the production of phycocyanin from Spirulina and various polyphenol/ | + | * __Water__ and __ethanol__ (food-grade ethyl alcohol) — listed in the Directive as permitted for use with no specific maximum residue level, provided they meet purity criteria. These are the broadest-use solvents and the most commercially relevant for producers seeking easy regulatory compliance; |
| * __Hexane__ — permitted for use in the production of certain fats and oils, including extraction of vegetable oils and the refining of olive oil. Algal oil producers (particularly those working with cold-press residues or dried biomass) may use hexane; maximum residue in the final product is 1 mg/kg. This is one of the more tightly controlled permitted solvents given hexane' | * __Hexane__ — permitted for use in the production of certain fats and oils, including extraction of vegetable oils and the refining of olive oil. Algal oil producers (particularly those working with cold-press residues or dried biomass) may use hexane; maximum residue in the final product is 1 mg/kg. This is one of the more tightly controlled permitted solvents given hexane' | ||
| * __Acetone__ — permitted for specific applications including carotenoid production; maximum residues apply. | * __Acetone__ — permitted for specific applications including carotenoid production; maximum residues apply. | ||
| - | * __Carbon dioxide (supercritical CO₂)__ — listed as a permitted extraction solvent. Supercritical CO₂ extraction is increasingly used for high-value algal pigment | + | * __Carbon dioxide (supercritical CO₂)__ — listed as a permitted extraction solvent. Supercritical CO₂ extraction is increasingly used for high-value algal pigments (astaxanthin, |
| * __Ethyl acetate__ — permitted for specific applications; | * __Ethyl acetate__ — permitted for specific applications; | ||
| === Solvents not on the permitted list === | === Solvents not on the permitted list === | ||
| - | Several solvents sometimes used in laboratory-scale algae research or in food ingredient production outside the EU — including certain chlorinated solvents, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), methanol, and others — are __not on the EU permitted list__ and may not legally be used in the production of food ingredients for the EU market. Industrial producers should verify the status of any solvent used in their extraction process before assuming it is compliant. | + | Several solvents sometimes used in laboratory-scale algae research or in food ingredient production outside the EU — including certain chlorinated solvents, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), and others |
| + | |||
| + | At the time of writing, no switchable solvents, deep eutectic solvents, or ionic solvents (green or not) are on the list. | ||
| ---- | ---- | ||
algae/food/extraction_solvents.1782204678.txt.gz · Last modified: by robert