Grant: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 1

The juice industry generates thousands of tons of residue of the pressing. Fruit pomace presents a greatchallenge in recovery and purification of specialty chemicals. The desired molecules are usually low inconcentration, with tons of biomass to be processed. Conventional extraction methods are time and energyconsuming. Furthermore, they are not economically viable. New advancements in extraction technology haveled to alternative solutions for the valorization of pomace with an extraction system that can be operated incontinuous model. Microwave-Assisted Processing (MAP) is an extraction technique regarded as a simple, lowcost, and robust alternative to conventional extraction.This project aims to optimize MAP extraction technologies using green chemistry extraction for thevalorization of fruit pomace biomass having high value-added extractables. The model will bedeveloped to provide insights into an automated, continuous and rapid extraction process of polyphenols froma wide range of biomass residues from cranberries, blueberries and apples and to improve its performance totransform the residues in high-value industrial products. The objective is to decrease process costs and toincrease process safety by using food-grade solvents in lower quantities.The characterization of the polyphenols profile and the antioxydant proprieties of the extract will allow toassess the economical value of the biomass by identifying the best conditions for optimal recovery of themolecules. It is believed that this approach will maximize the amount of target compound recovered per unit ofbiomass, and can cost-effectively isolate and extract compounds previously considered uneconomic.