Extraction of Anacardium occidentale: A kinetic, thermodynamic, phytochemical identification, and antibacterial study

Cashew tree biomass, Anacardium occidentale, represents an underutilized part of the plant and could have great potential for application in several areas, such as bioengineering, food science, and chemical. The stirred bed process was optimized to produce extracts from Anacardium occidentale stem bark (SBAo) and leaves (LAo) for bactericide purposes. Variables as alcohol content, stirring speed (SS), particle size (PS), solid-to-solvent ratio (S/S), temperature, and extraction time were evaluated. Subsequently, kinetic, thermodynamic and diffusivity fittings of the data were performed using different nonlinear models (Peleg, 2nd order, Elovich, power law, and Fick's 2nd law) applied to the yield curves. Extracts were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), and ultra-high resolution mass spectrometry (UHRMS) techniques for qualitative and quantitative determination of the phytochemicals. The optimized operating conditions obtained were ethanol in solvent at 70%, PS 0.9893 and RMSE 0.9985 and RMSE