Resource Utilization of Food Industry Byproducts

A special issue of Processes (ISSN 2227-9717). This special issue belongs to the section "Food Process Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 1798

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
URD Agro-Biotechnologie Industrielles, CEBB, AgroParisTech, 51110 Pomacle, France
Interests: chemical engineering and processing; process intensification; green extraction techniques; active food packaging

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Guest Editor
Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Food Science, Toxicology and Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Valencia, Avenida Vicent Andrés Estellés, s/n, Burjassot, 46100 Valencia, Spain
Interests: chemical process intensification; enabling technologies; environmental chemical engineering; green chemistry; sustainable food

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The food industry produces significant amounts of solid waste and liquid effluents, which are often rich in organic matter and valuable biomolecules. In light of growing environmental concerns and the global shift toward circular economy principles, the valorization of food byproducts offers a promising opportunity to create added value while reducing waste. Through innovative processing and recovery technologies, residual food industry streams can be transformed into a broad array of products such as functional ingredients, food supplements, enzymes, pigments, biofuels, pharmaceuticals, biomaterials, and more.

This Special Issue aims to showcase the latest advances in process development, optimization, and scale-up strategies that enable efficient utilization of agricultural and food byproducts. We invite original research articles and comprehensive reviews that explore innovative processing techniques, the transition from laboratory to pilot or industrial scale, and the integration of alorization strategies into sectors such as food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, energy, and materials. 

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

  • Upscaling, optimization, and intensification of extraction and purification processes;
  • Transition from batch to continuous or flow-based systems;
  • Biorefinery concepts applied to food industry byproducts;
  • Development of novel ingredients and products from agri-food waste;
  • Biotechnological approaches for byproducts valorization;
  • Use of waste streams for biofuels, bioplastics, and bio-based materials production;
  • Evaluation of safety, stability, and efficacy of recovered compounds;
  • Barriers and enablers for scaling up valorization processes;
  • Industrial applications and integration into existing processing chains.

We particularly welcome submissions that bridge the gap between laboratory research and real-world application, offering insights into the performance, feasibility, and sustainability of valorization processes across various industries.

Dr. Christian Cravotto
Dr. Manuel Salgado Ramos
Dr. Federica Turrini
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • food industry byproducts
  • process optimization
  • novel valorisation strategies
  • green technologies
  • biorefinery
  • bioactive compounds
  • functional ingredients
  • sustainable processing

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 3397 KB  
Article
Effect of Acrylic Acid Concentration on the Hydrothermal Carbonization of Stevia rebaudiana Biomass and Resulting Hydrochar Properties
by Koray Alper
Processes 2025, 13(9), 2731; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13092731 - 27 Aug 2025
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Abstract
In this study, Stevia rebaudiana biomass was hydrothermally carbonized (HTC) at 215 °C for 60 min with acrylic acid (AA) as a catalyst at concentrations of 0.25, 0.50, and 1.00 mol L−1. The maximum hydrochar yield (48.5%) was obtained at 0.25 [...] Read more.
In this study, Stevia rebaudiana biomass was hydrothermally carbonized (HTC) at 215 °C for 60 min with acrylic acid (AA) as a catalyst at concentrations of 0.25, 0.50, and 1.00 mol L−1. The maximum hydrochar yield (48.5%) was obtained at 0.25 mol L−1 AA, while fixed carbon contents ranged from 20.79% to 34.27%. Higher heating values (HHV) varied between 26.95 and 36.61 MJ kg−1, with the highest catalytic HHV (32.20 MJ kg−1) achieved at 1.00 mol L−1 AA (HC15). Acrylic acid addition significantly promoted deoxygenation, reducing the O/C ratio from 0.67 in raw biomass to 0.21, thereby improving fuel quality. FT-IR and XRD analyses indicated enhanced aromatization and partial graphitization with increasing acid concentration, while SEM images revealed carbon microspheres and porous morphologies. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that HC15 exhibited the lowest mass loss and highest residual carbon, indicating superior thermal stability. GC-MS analysis demonstrated that acrylic acid markedly increased phenolic derivatives, with phenol content rising from 19.47% (without catalyst) to 40.92% (1.00 mol L−1 AA). The aqueous phase contained TOC values of 14,280–28,728 mg/L and COD values of 43,227–113,920 mg/L. Overall, acrylic acid-assisted HTC enhances both the energy-related properties of hydrochars and the chemical diversity of liquid products, providing a sustainable route for valorizing Stevia rebaudiana waste into value-added fuels and chemicals. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Resource Utilization of Food Industry Byproducts)
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Review

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23 pages, 313 KB  
Review
Valorization of Food Industry Waste for Biodegradable Biopolymer-Based Packaging Films
by Kristina Cvetković, Ivana Karabegović, Simona Dordevic, Dani Dordevic and Bojana Danilović
Processes 2025, 13(8), 2567; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13082567 - 14 Aug 2025
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Abstract
In recent years, food waste management has become one of the key challenges faced by modern society. The significant ecological footprint left by this type of waste can be mitigated through proper valorization. Directing food waste towards the production of biopolymers has attracted [...] Read more.
In recent years, food waste management has become one of the key challenges faced by modern society. The significant ecological footprint left by this type of waste can be mitigated through proper valorization. Directing food waste towards the production of biopolymers has attracted considerable attention from researchers. Plant- and animal-based by-products from the food industry are the valuable materials which can be utilized for the production of biopolymer-based films. Although the use of food waste in biopolymer film production holds great potential, various factors such as the type of source and extraction methods significantly affect the physicochemical properties of the films. With the addition of various compounds that enhance their antioxidant and antimicrobial effects, these films can prolong the freshness and safety of packaged products, making them comparable to plastic derived from fossil fuels. This review highlights the potential of biopolymers from food waste for the production of biopolymer-based films and the possibilities of their modification in order to improve their properties for use in the food packaging industry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Resource Utilization of Food Industry Byproducts)
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