Green Extraction Techniques for Food Waste Recycling: Potentials, Challenges, and Industrial Prospects
2ⁿᵈ International Food Innovation and Sustainability Congress, İstanbul, Türkiye, 7 - 09 Mayıs 2026, ss.173, (Özet Bildiri)
- Yayın Türü: Bildiri / Özet Bildiri
- Basıldığı Şehir: İstanbul
- Basıldığı Ülke: Türkiye
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.173
- İstanbul Gelişim Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Emerging strategies for the valorization of food waste into value-added products, including functional food ingredients, natural additives, reformulated food matrices, and biotechnologically derived compounds, are increasingly recognized in the food industry, particularly in contrast to conventional practices such as composting and incineration. In the literature, such approaches are conceptualized under the framework of “second-generation food waste management, ” which seeks to reconceptualize process-derived residues as valuable sources of bioactive compounds rather than environmental burdens. In this context, green extraction technologies, characterized by reduced solvent consumption, lower energy demand, and improved extraction efficiency, have become key innovative tools for the valorization of food processing by-products. Widely applied techniques include microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), pressurized liquid extraction (PLE), pulsed electric field (PEF) treatments, cold plasma, and supercritical fluid extraction (SFE). These processes primarily enhance mass transfer, thereby shortening processing times while reducing energy and solvent requirements. Furthermore, they enable more selective extraction of bioactive compounds, helping to limit thermal degradation and preserve functional properties. The use of non-toxic, renewable solvents also helps reduce hazardous residues and lower the overall carbon footprint. Despite these advantages, several challenges hinder technological adaptation and large-scale implementation. High initial capital investment, complex equipment, and demanding operational conditions remain significant barriers to industrial adoption. Particularly, SFE and PLE require sophisticated system configurations and precise control of elevated pressures and temperatures to ensure process stability and product quality. Moreover, the relatively high energy intensity of certain techniques can promote the degradation of sensitive bioactive compounds under certain conditions. To improve industrial applicability, future research should integrate comprehensive sustainability assessments, including life cycle assessment (LCA) approaches, to more holistically evaluate economic feasibility and environmental impact