EXTRACITRUS
Extraction of Nutraceutical and Cosmeceutical Compounds from Citrus Industry Residues using Supercritical CO2 Technology
Scheda del progetto
Citrus production processes generate a large amount of waste. The aim of the Extracitrus project is the realisation of a virtuous, innovative system, based on the principles of the circular economy, for the valorisation of waste using supercritical fluid technology to obtain extracts with high added value, to be used in the food industry or as active ingredients for cosmetics. The entire valorisation process will focus on fundamental aspects such as traceability and analysis of environmental and economic impacts.
Contact:
Carlo Pappone, carlopappone@mater.it
Currently, the by-products of citrus fruit production are sent to waste disposal plants, which entails substantial disposal costs for producers and processors. Some by-products of processing are already being reused and valorised. Seeds represent the real unused part of citrus fruits and are commonly considered as agro-industrial waste; therefore, their valorisation can significantly decrease the problems of their final disposal.
The innovation consists in the introduction of new production processes that exploit advanced technologies for the extraction of waste from agricultural production, including leaf and root parts, and from industrial processing of the citrus chain, favouring its full utilisation, also through the implementation of IoT and Blockchain technology services, for the market introduction of new products in the health and green agriculture fields.
The extracts obtained from the project have positive effects on the health and beauty of the skin and can be used as ingredients in food supplements, nutraceutical and cosmetic formulations.