Sustainable Approaches for the Extraction of Bioactives and Production of Bio-based Materials from Food Processing Wastes

该提案旨在支持一项长期研究计划，该计划旨在解决全球食品浪费问题以及消费者对天然原料产品日益增长的需求。本研究的主要目的是探索食品加工废弃物中天然化合物的绿色提取方法，开发功能性生物基材料。在本研究中，重点将放在果渣上，这是果汁生产的副产品，富含天然色素。天然色素（如花青素、甜菜素、番茄红素和β -胡萝卜素）与许多健康益处有关，是功能性食品、保健品、美容和个人护理产品的重要成分。生物分子的绿色提取/分离方法将探索使用天然深共晶溶剂（NADES）和泡沫分馏，其中溶剂和所得提取物将在水基系统中由食品和化妆品相容的化合物组成。然后，将建立一种从这些液体提取物中生产功能性生物聚合物水凝胶的新策略，其中溶剂形成配方介质的一部分。这个研究项目是创新的，因为它的整个方法都以可持续发展和绿色化学原则为中心：提取的原材料是食品加工的副产品，提取过程低能耗，使用无毒无害的天然化学品，提取的提取物被纳入可生物降解的材料中，由天然生物活性化合物和生物聚合物生产。这项研究的影响将是重大的，因为它将通过增加食品加工副产品的价值和减少浪费来提高食品加工的可持续性。此外，研究还将开发与食品和其他消费品兼容的天然色素和生物分子的更简单的绿色提取技术，以满足对天然清洁标签产品的需求。绿色萃取技术和生物基、无毒、与食品和消费品兼容的替代溶剂的使用，将降低基于传统有机溶剂的现有萃取过程的复杂性和成本，同时提高安全性和可持续性。通过将绿色溶剂和萃取物整合到生物基材料中，该研究项目将为功能性食品、营养保健、美容和个人护理行业开发具有更高功能的创新产品，例如生物活性物质的控释输送系统和基于海藻酸钙薄膜的可生物降解活性包装。该研究项目还将为加拿大功能食品和天然产品行业的持续发展提供高素质人才培训，并帮助加拿大成为绿色加工技术的领导者。

This proposal is to support a long-term research program that addresses the global problem of food waste and the growing consumer demand for products with naturally-sourced ingredients. The main objective of the proposed research is to investigate green extraction methods for natural compounds from food processing wastes and develop functional bio-based materials. In this research, the focus will be on pomace, which is a by-product from juice production and is rich in natural pigments.  Natural pigments (e.g. anthocyanins, betalains, lycopene and beta-carotene) are associated with numerous health benefits and are highly-prized ingredients for functional foods, health supplements, and beauty and personal care products. Green extraction/separation methods for biomolecules will be explored using Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents (NADES) and foam fractionation, where the solvent and resultant extract will consist of food and cosmetic-compatible compounds in a water-based system. Then, a novel strategy for producing functional biopolymeric hydrogels from these liquid extracts, where the solvent forms part of the formulation medium, will be established. This research program is innovative as its entire approach is centered on sustainability and the principles of green chemistry: the raw materials for extraction are food processing by-products, the extraction processes are low energy and use natural chemicals that are non-toxic and non-hazardous, and the extracts are incorporated into materials that are biodegradable and produced from natural bioactive compounds and biopolymers. The impact of this research will be significant as it will improve the sustainability of food processing by adding value to food processing byproducts and reducing waste. In addition, the research will develop simpler green extraction technologies for natural pigments and biomolecules that are compatible with food and other consumer products to satisfy the demand for natural clean label products. The use of green extraction technologies and alternative solvents that are bio-based, non-toxic and compatible with food and consumer products will reduce the complexity and cost of existing extraction processes based on conventional organic solvents, while increasing safety and sustainability. By incorporating the green solvents and extracts into bio-based materials, this research program will develop innovative products with increased functionalities for the functional food, nutraceutical, beauty and personal care industries, such as controlled release delivery systems for bioactives and biodegradable active packaging based on calcium-alginate films. This research program will also provide excellent training for highly qualified personnel for the sustained growth of the functional food and natural products industries in Canada, and help to position Canada as a leader in green processing technologies.