ISSN 2375-0723
African Journal of Food Science Research ISSN 2375-0723 Vol. 3 (9), pp. 208-216, September, 2015. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
A study of solid-liquid extractive techniques and an innovative solid-liquid extraction technology using the Naviglio Extractor®
Daniele Naviglio1*, Fabiana Pizzolongo1, Raffaele Romano1 and Lydia Ferrara2
1Dipartimento di Scienza degli Alimenti, Università degli Studi di Napoli “Federico II”
Via Università 100 - 80055 Portici - Napoli – Italy.
2Dipartimento di Chimica Farmaceutica e Tossicologica, Università degli Studi di Napoli “Federico II”, Via Domenico
Montesano 49 - 80131 Napoli – Italy.
*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected].
Accepted 29 March, 2015
Abstract
This document is a review on solid-liquid extractive techniques and describes an innovative solid-liquid extraction technology using the Naviglio Extractor®. Also explained is an application for the production of alcoholic extract from lemon peel. The alcoholic extract, mixed with a sugar and water solution in the right proportions is used to make a well known Italian lemon liquor commonly named "limoncello". Lemon liquor is obtained utilizing the Naviglio Extractor®; the procedure used is fast and efficient and uses about half the weight of lemon peel per volume of ethyl alcohol used for the extraction of the odorous and taste responsible compounds, compared to the commonly used extraction procedures. To test the consumer’s preference and compare the taste of the liquor obtained with that obtained by peel maceration from the same lot of lemons and obtained using the traditional recipe, a consumer test has been carried out. One hundred people, chosen from among frequent consumers of limoncello, tasted the two lemon liquors, and evaluated intensity of aroma, colour, alcohol taste and sweetness. In about 81% of the preferences, the liquor obtained using the Naviglio Extractor® was preferred. The extraction process used allows the ethanol from used up lemon peel to be totally recovered so that these can be disposed of as non toxic waste or used in agriculture or as cattle feed.
Key words: Lemon liquor, lemon peels, Naviglio Extractor, maceration, solid-liquid extraction, limoncello.