Research

1. Emerging Processing Technologies

Dr. Saldaña research focuses on emerging processing technologies and the use of near-critical and supercritical water and carbon dioxide to treat biomass and agricultural materials for use in nutraceutical, food and industrial applications. We have worked on protein, and starch processing. Main areas are:

- Sub/supercritical fluid processing (supercritical CO2, subcritical and supercritical water, pressurized fluids for extraction, fractionation, reaction and particle formation)

- Ultrasound processing (extraction, homogenization, emulsion, reaction, etc)

- High Pressure Processing and High Pressure Processing assisted by Temperature to treat crops and food products.

2. Unit Operations for Food/By-product Processing

Dr. Saldaña research group has vast experience on food/Natural health product/by-product processing using various unit operations. We have processed food and by-products using conventional methods as well as innovative processing techniques: 

- Adsorption (Compounds)

- Extraction (Bioactives and value-added compounds) 

- Fractionation (Extracts, Bioactives)

- Reaction of biopolymers (Films, Gels)

- Particle formation (Powders)

- Drying and pasteurization

- Food industry waste treatment

3. Mathematical modeling and simulations

We have also performed mathematical modeling and computer simulations:

- Solubility determination and modeling

- Kinetic modeling

- Extraction simulation

Dr. Saldaña's work has encompassed a variety of crops, including potato, flax, wheat, triticale, lentils, peas, barley, canola, faba beans, coffee, cocoa, guarana, carrots, tomatoes, Echinacea, and tea leaves. Her research contributes to the development of sustainable food systems and the valorization of agricultural by-products.

Dr. Saldaña maintains fruitful collaborations with researchers from renowned centers and universities in Japan, Germany, The Netherlands and Brazil. Thus, she provides an exciting research program in the area of high pressure processing, nanotechnology, ultrasound processing and supercritical fluid technology.