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Water Treatment
Figure 2: a-b) Step-by-step evolution of the concentration of RS and“ Active Tracer” and the yield of RS and“ Active Tracer” during an exhaustion extraction; c-d) Step-by-step evolution of the concentration of RS and“ Active Tracer” and the yield of RS and“ Active Tracer” during an enrichment extraction.
The environmental impact of the extraction process is mainly related to the energy required for heating the solvent during extraction and for the solvent evaporation to obtain a stable concentrate. Regarding the extraction phase, enrichment appears to be more efficient as it allows for the reuse of the solvent and therefore the recovery of the heat it contains. However, one may question the profitability of enrichment extraction at each step. Therefore, Figure 3 presents the evolution, step by step, of the volume of water used per mg / L of“ Active tracer” during an enrichment extraction. Figure 3 shows a decrease in the volume of water( L) per mg / L of“ Active tracer” extracted from step 1 to step 3( 177 L /( mg / L) and 135 L /( mg / L) respectively), followed by an increase in this value up to step 6( 163 L /( mg / L)). The minimum of the curve is reached at step 3, where the least amount of water is used to extract the maximum amount of active ingredient. Regarding the concentration phase, the more concentrated the initial extract, the less energy is required for the concentration process. Therefore, step 3 appears to be the most interesting as it leads to a more concentrated extract while minimizing the amount of water used. It is estimated that enrichment extraction could reduce energy consumption by 50 % during the concentration step, and by approximately 25 % during the extraction step.
II. 2. Lifecycle analysis The environmental impact of a natural extract is not limited to the volume of solvent needed for extracting the raw material or the amount of energy required to heat it. It must be studied comprehensively across the entire life cycle of the product. Based on mid-point indicators for an analysis scope ranging from agricultural production attributable to ODYLIFE to factory output( cradleto-gate), we compared, as shown in Figure 4, the life cycle of an extraction based on the number of enrichment extraction steps( 1 step or 3 steps). We observe, in Figure 4, an overall decrease in the environmental impact of ODYLIFE when transitioning from 1 to 3 extraction steps. This reduction is primarily due to the optimization of the amount of water needed to extract the active ingredients. Beyond optimizing technical parameters, ODYSSEE Environnement is committed to a comprehensive eco-responsible approach by favoring local supply chains and collaborating with local partners, from cultivation( stimulation, creation of new outlets, and promotion of French agriculture) to the extraction of ODYLIFE. Additionally, the sludge resulting from the extraction process is reused for spreading, thus establishing a circular economy through ODYLIFE.
Figure 3: Evolution, step by step, of the cumulative volume of water( L) used per mg / L of“ Active tracer” extracted during an enrichment extraction. www. heat-exchanger-world. com Heat Exchanger World July 2025
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