**1. Introduction**

150 Mass Transfer in Chemical Engineering Processes

Romeo, L. M.; Escosa, J. & Bolea, I. (2006). *Postcombustion CO2 sequestration,* Universidad de

Steinfeld, G., & Sanderson, R. (1998). *Landfill Gas Cleanup for Carbonate Fuel Cell Power* 

Svärd, T. (2004). *Adsorption of Hydrogen Sulfide at low temperature*, Lund University, Lund,

Tondeur, D. & Teng, F. (2008). Carbon capture and storage for greenhouse effect mitigation.

Treybal, R. E. (1996). *Operaciones de Transferencia de Masa* (2nd ed.), Mc Graw Hill, ISBN 968-

Walsh, J.; Ross, C.; Smith, M.; Harper, S. & Wilkins, W. (1988). *Biogas Utilization Handbook,* Georgia Tech Research Institute, ISBN 0962464740, Atlanta, Georgia, USA Wark, K. & Warner, C.F. (1981). *Air Pollution: Its Origin and Control*, Harper and Row

www.textoscientificos.com. (December 2nd, 2005). *Usos del biogas,* April 5th, 2011, Available

from: http://www.textoscientificos.com/energia/biogas/usos

(Ed.), pp. 305-330, Elsevier, ISBN 978-0-08-054808-1, China

*Generation,* National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Morgantown, West Virginia,

In *Future Energy: Improved, sustainable and clean options for our planet*, T. M. Letcher

Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain

USA

Sweden

6046-34-8, Mexico

Publishers, New York, New York, USA

PEF treatment involves the application of repetitive ultra-short pulses (from ns to s) of a high-strength electric field (0.1-10 kV/cm) through a material located between two electrodes. The application of the external electric field induces the permeabilization of cytoplasmatic membranes. The main advantages of PEF with respect to other treatments addressed to disrupt the cell membranes, such as the application of heat or the addition of pectolytic enzymes, are as follows:


The application of PEF as a permeabilization treatment to increase the rates of mass transfer of valuable compounds from biological matrices was demonstrated to be effective in drying, extraction, and diffusion processes.

This chapter reviews the basic mechanisms of PEF-induced permeabilization of plant tissues, discusses the methods of detection of electrically induced cell damages and analyses the influence of PEF process parameters on mass transfer. Furthermore, mathematical models to describe the mass transfer rates from PEF-treated vegetable tissue are discussed and some criteria of energy optimization are given as well as some examples on the recovery of polyphenolic compounds from food matrices and on the integration of PEF treatments in the winemaking industry.
