The use of surfactants in the extraction of active ingredients from natural resources: a comprehensive review

Abstract

Surfactants are amphiphilic compounds, crucial in extracting active ingredients from natural resources by enhancing solubility, reducing surface tension, and facilitating phase separation. This review highlights novel extraction techniques, such as micellar extraction, pressurized system extraction, ultrasound-assisted extraction, and microwave-assisted extraction, that leverage surfactants to improve efficiency. It also explores the mechanisms through which surfactants aid in the extraction process, focusing on their application in isolating bioactive compounds from plants, algae, microorganisms, and other natural matrices. We examine the various types of surfactants—anionic, cationic, nonionic, and zwitterionic—used in extraction processes, along with their advantages and limitations. The review also discusses environmentally friendly and sustainable surfactants and assesses the environmental performance of biosurfactants in surfactant-assisted extraction. Finally, we explore potential challenges, including regulatory hurdles, environmental impacts, mass scale-up issues, and the need for further research in the field.