Exploring the economic viability of Jatobá (Hymenaea courbaril L.) bark extraction: A comparative study

The aim of this study was to provide a comprehensive economic evaluation for the transition from lab-scale to large-scale production of jatobá bark extracts containing phenolic compounds. Building upon previous technical research, the present work compares conventional agitation (AG) to modern supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), and ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE). SuperPro Designer was used to estimate the project’s economic indicators. Moreover, freeze drying and spray drying were evaluated as possible operations for water removal from the extract. The operating costs (OPEX) analysis at the most economical process condition showed the primary influence of raw material cost (CRM), regardless of the technique. Additionally, utilities cost (CUT) had a greater impact on UAE and AG than SFE. A sensitivity analysis revealed that extract selling price and productivity significantly impacted return on investment (ROI), followed by CRM and CUT. In summary, SFE, AG, and UAE were feasible for the recovery of phenolic extracts from jatobá bark, with payback times of 4.2, 2.0, and 3.4 years, respectively. This work shows the economic feasibility and potential scalability of these extraction processes, laying a foundation for future industrial implementation and commercialization of jatobá bark extracts.