Nutraceutical-rich oil from passion fruit by-products of beverage processing by green extraction

Processing passion fruit beverages generates substantial agro-industrial by-products that are rich in bioactive compounds. Valorizing these by-products through green extraction offers a sustainable route to transform them into high-value oils while supporting responsible food-waste reduction. The present study evaluated two sustainable compressed gas extraction alternatives, supercritical fluid carbon dioxide (SF-CO₂) and liquefied dimethyl ether (LDME), alongside conventional cold pressing and solvent extraction, focusing on the retention of nutraceutical compounds in the crude oils to identify the most effective recovery method. LDME gave the highest oil yield (27.36%), together with low acid and peroxide values and high total phenolic content and antioxidant activity (DPPH, FRAP and ABTS). The oils contained total tocopherols, phytosterols and policosanols ranging from 303.92 to 468.34 mg/kg, 370.02 to 673.67 mg/100 g, and 212.10 to 258.37 mg/100 g, respectively, and the LDME-extracted puree oil showed the highest carotenoid content. Principal component analysis revealed a strong association between the SF-CO 2 and LDME methods and these bioactive compounds, indicating the potential of the resulting oils as sources of lipophilic nutraceuticals for functional-food applications.