What Is The Ultrasonic-assisted Extraction (UAE)

What Is The Ultrasonic-assisted Extraction (UAE)

Ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) is an efficient and environmentally friendly extraction technology that utilizes the cavitation effect and mechanical vibration of ultrasound to accelerate cell wall rupture and the dissolution of target components.  It is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine, food, health products, cosmetics, and bioenergy fields for extracting active substances such as vitamins, polyphenols, proteins, and essential oils. It offers advantages such as short extraction time, high efficiency, low cost, high quality, and environmental friendliness, making it a powerful alternative to traditional methods.

Core Principles

• Cavitation Effect: Ultrasound generates tiny bubbles in the liquid. When these bubbles collapse, they produce powerful shock waves and microjets, "bombarding" the material and causing the effective components to be released.

• Mechanical Vibration: High-frequency vibration accelerates the movement of medium particles, allowing the solvent to quickly penetrate into the material, promoting dissolution and separation of substances.

Main Application Areas

• Traditional Chinese Medicine and Natural Products: Extraction of active ingredients from traditional Chinese medicine (such as nicotine, polysaccharides, and flavonoids), improving extraction yield and product quality.

• Food Industry: Extraction of polyphenols, vitamins, and functional proteins from fruits, vegetables, and grains for use in beverages, health products, and food additives.

• Bioenergy: Extraction of biodiesel, plant proteins, etc.

• Cosmetics: Extraction of plant essential oils and active ingredients for use in beauty and skincare products.

• Laboratory Research: Cell disruption, emulsification, dispersion, extraction, etc.

Advantages of Ultrasonic Extraction

• High Efficiency and Energy Saving: Significantly shortens extraction time (a few tens of minutes can achieve the effect of several hours with traditional methods), saving energy.

• Green and Environmentally Friendly: Can use water or low-toxicity solvents, reducing the amount of harmful reagents.

• High Quality: Low-temperature operation (usually < 70°C) better protects heat-sensitive active ingredients and prevents decomposition.

• High Yield: Extraction yield is doubled or even higher compared to traditional methods.

Application Cases

• Nicotine Extraction: Extraction using low-concentration ethanol or water, significantly increasing efficiency compared to traditional reflux methods.

• Protein Extraction: Improves the extraction rate of protein from slurries such as soy milk, improving product texture.

• Polyphenol Extraction: Extraction of antioxidants from tea and fruits.