EXPLORING THE IMPACT OF SUPERCRITICAL TECHNOLOGY APPLIED TO THE BURITI FRUIT (MAURITIA FLEXUOSA) ON THE BIOECONOMY OF THE AMAZON

Abstract

The Mauritia flexuosa species represents great biotechnological and economic potential for the Amazon region. Its fruits have high nutritional value and significant amounts of bioactive compounds that can be used in new product formulations and special applications, but are still little explored from a technological and commercial point of view. Among the emerging techniques that can be applied to this species to generate high added value products, extraction with supercritical fluid stands out. In addition to high yields and better quality of the final products, this process eliminates the need for organic solvents that are usually toxic and harmful to the environment. The use of supercritical fluids presents itself as an innovative solution for introducing the fruit and its derivatives into the most varied industries, generating benefits not only from a technological point of view, but also social, environmental and economic ones. Studies related to the implementation of supercritical technology in the Amazon on a larger scale with a focus on technical and economic analyses have already been developed, presenting promising solutions that take into account the unique characteristics of the region, making the process technically viable, economically attractive and environmentally responsible. However, in order to meet the increased demand for buriti products, some factors other than technology must be considered at all levels of the production chain. In this context, this research aims to investigate the impact of supercritical technology applied to the buriti fruit (Mauritia flexuosa) on the bioeconomy of the Amazon.