Tendências no Pré-Tratamento de Biomassa Vegetal Visando a Obtenção de Óleo Essencial

Resumo

The efficient extraction of volatile compounds from aromatic plants depends directly on the characteristics of the biomass and the pre-extraction methods applied. This article presents a review of the scientific literature on the main pre-treatment strategies of plant biomass aimed at optimizing essential oil recovery. Conventional methods such as steam distillation, hydrodistillation, cold pressing, and organic solvent extraction are initially discussed, highlighting their limitations in terms of yield, compound stability, and environmental impact. Subsequently, innovative approaches are addressed, including the use of enzymes, microwaves, ultrasound, and physicochemical techniques that enhance cell wall disruption and preserve thermolabile compounds. The methodology consisted of a bibliographic review conducted in the Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, and Google Scholar databases, using Boolean operators such as AND, OR, and NOT to refine the search results. The search included publications from 2017 to 2025. Articles with full-text access and recognized scientific relevance were included. Data were organized to allow comparative analysis across different approaches. In summary, emerging pre-treatment techniques demonstrate significant potential to improve extraction efficiency, reduce processing time, and enable more sustainable methods for obtaining essential oils.