Analysis of pulsed electric field (PEF) specific input energy and its effect to the tannin content of Areca (Areca catechu L.) seed powder extract

Abstract Areca (Areca catechu L.) is one of the plants that contain phenolic compounds as tannin as antioxidant. Pre-treatment priorplant extraction using Pulsed Electric Field (PEF) has been reported to improve the yield and the qualityof the extracts. The specific input energy of PEF, counted an energy needed during the PEF process, was found to be influenced by voltage and duration of PEF. In this study, the relationship between specific input energy using variation voltage and duration of PEF was studied on extraction of areca seed. This research examined tannin levels and changes in areca cell structure before and after PEF. This research used Factorial Randomized Block Design with two factors. The first factor was PEF voltage with three levels of 3, 4 and 5 kV and the second factor was PEF duration with three levels of 3, 5 and 7 minutes. The obtained data was analyzed using one-way ANOVA. The results revealed that specific input energy of PEF in the range of 1.92-12.44 kJ/cm3did not have significant effects ontannin content of areca seeds extract. However, when it compared with control (without PEF pretreatment), better results was obtained on the tannin content. Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX) analysis of areca seed powder demonstrated significane differences in structure and element concentration of samples with and without PEF pretreatment. The findings confirmed that PEF pretreatment offers great promise in tannin extraction.