Pulsed electric field and high-intensity ultrasound for developing sustanaible products from pomegranate juice by-products for waste valorization

• Grant number: 24/15579-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: October 01, 2024
• End date: February 29, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering - Chemical Process Industries
• Principal Investigator: Eric Keven Silva
• Grantee: Géssica Maria Lopes de Faria
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia de Alimentos (FEA). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 20/11255-3 - Pulsed electric field: design of non-thermal processes, functional foods and biomaterials, AP.JP

Abstract

The modern society is increasingly aware of environmental issues and the need for the development of sustainable processes and products. Simultaneously, the demand for products that offer health benefits is also on the rise. The full utilization of plant matrices rich in phenolic compounds, through the valorization of agro-food waste, can enable the development of new products that meet the demands of consumers concerned with health and nutrition, process sustainability, and conscious consumption. In this context, the design of new non-thermal and green processes, which allow for maximum yield in the recovery of compounds while preserving their biological activity, is one of the greatest challenges of our time. Emerging technologies, such as pulsed electric field (PEF) and high-intensity ultrasound (HIUS), are promising alternatives to address these challenges, as they enhance mass transfer through cell permeabilization. Therefore, the aim of this project is to focus on the integration of PEF and HIUS technologies to assist in the biorefinery of pomegranate peel (Punica granatum L.) for the recovery of phenolic compounds, pectin, and protein through sequential extractions. Additionally, this project aims to recycle the obtained ingredients for application in the formulation of a structured carrier system for the delivery of bioactive compounds from pomegranate peel.