Application of the Microwave-assisted Process to the Fast Extraction of Isoflavone from the Waste Residue of the Soybeans

Due to the importance of isoflavone content in soybean extracts, the microwave-assisted process (MAP) was compared to the conventional extraction methods. For comparison of the three methods, all extraction parameters (solvent, sample to solvent ratio, temperature, etc.) were kept the same; the microwave extractor was operated at 187.5 W with an emission frequency of 2450 MHz under atmospheric pressure conditions and the extractions were carried out at 75 ${^{\circ}C}$ for 3 min while the conventional reflux was at 75 ${^{\circ}C}$ for 3 h. Total yield and crude isoflavone content were determined by ultraviolet spectrophotometric and compared with the three methods. Results indicated that the MAP was comparable to the conventional method in its capability to extract target compounds without causing any degradation; in addition it dramatically reduced the extraction time from 3 h to a few minutes, suggesting that it can be an alternative technique to the time-consuming conventional reflux method.