Revolutionizing waste management: Citrus waste to biopolymers via cavitation

The citrus industry generates a substantial amount of waste, primarily peels and seeds, which are often underutilized despite their rich cellulose and pectin content. Conventional pectin and cellulose extraction methods are energy-intensive and generate harmful by-products. However, a recent study introduces a novel, green approach using cavitation, a process that uses sound waves to create bubbles in liquid, offering a sustainable and efficient alternative.

The research team applied both hydrodynamic and acoustic cavitation techniques to convert citrus waste into "CytroCell," a micronized cellulose, and "IntegroPectin," a highly bioactive pectin. This process, termed "CytroCav," requires only water and electricity, operates at room temperature, and is completed in a single step, making it an exemplary circular economy practice.

The study's findings revealed that the ζ potential of the AC-extracted red orange IntegroPectin was significantly higher than that of the red orange CytroCell, indicating better stability in colloidal dispersions. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the amorphous nature of the IntegroPectin and the crystalline structure of the CytroCell, respectively. Scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) provided visual evidence of the submicron cellulose rods produced.

The "CytroCav" process not only offers a sustainable method for waste valorization but also presents a significant economic opportunity. The biopolymers produced have broad applicative potential in biomedicine and advanced composite membranes, among other fields. The process's simplicity and efficiency, coupled with the high value of the resulting products, make it an economically viable and technically feasible option for industrial implementation.

See the article:

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobab.2024.09.002

Original Source URL

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2369969824000562

Journal

Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts