Alternative Solvents for Natural Products Extraction

Farid Chemat is a full Professor of Chemistry at Avignon University (France), Director of GREEN Extraction Team (alternative extraction techniques and solvents), co-director of ORTESA LabCom research unit Naturex-UAPV, and scientific coordinator of "France Eco-Extraction" dealing with dissemination of research and education on green extraction technologies. Born in 1968, he received his PhD (1994) in process engineering from the Institut National Polytechnique de Toulouse-France. Following postdoctoral research work with Prolabo-Merck (1995-1997), he spent two years (1997-1999) as senior researcher at the University of Wageningen (The Netherlands). In 1999, he moved to the University of La Réunion (France DOM) to work as an assistant professor and since 2006 he holds the position of Professor at the University of Avignon (France). His main research interests are focused on innovative and sustainable extraction techniques, protocols and solvents (especially microwave, ultrasound and bio-based solvents) for food, pharmaceutical, fine chemistry, biofuel, and cosmetic applications. His research activities are documented in more than 140 scientific peer-reviewed papers, 9 books and 7 patents. Maryline Abert Vian, born in 1974, received her PhD (2000) in Organic Chemistry at the University of Avignon. She spent four years (2000-2004) as junior researcher with industrial companies. In 2005, she moved to the University of Avignon (France) to start her independent academic career. She obtained her "Habilitation à Diriger les Recherches" in 2011 in food and natural products chemistry and since she managed several French programs in the field of research and industrial application of alternative solvents applied for extraction of valuable compounds and biofuels from microorganisms (microalgae, yeast...) with several industrial partners such as Airbus or GDF-Suez. Her research activity is documented by more than 25 scientific peer-reviewed papers, and about 30 communications for scientific meetings, 9 book chapters and 2 patents. Her research primarily focuses on the solvent extraction and analysis of natural products and has paved the way for new extraction techniques with bio-based solvents.