Title : Full high added value recovery of agricultural green residual biomass to promote circular bioeconomy
Abstract:
Tree pruning represents an important source of biomass. Citrus fruits, for example, cultivated on more than 10 million hectares worldwide, produce each year around 25 million tonnes (an average of 2.5 t/ha) of low-value lignocellulosic biomass. This biomass thus constitutes an excellent raw material for the recovery and production of high-value by-products and of multiple uses. In this respect, our valorising research focused on a deep phytochemical characterisation of its polyphenolic and flavonoid contents and antioxidant activities. Thus, using GC-MS we were able to identify and evaluate the bioactivity of several compounds such as quinic acid, proline, alpha-linolenic acid and alpha-amyrin known for their wide range of applications. We studied the fragrant aromatic composition of petitgrain essential oil, which can serve as a promising natural source used in the development and formulation of functional foods and pharmaceuticals, in flavours, liqueurs, perfumes and medication. On the other hand, for the purpose of complete valorisation, we demonstrated an anti-fungal and anti-oxidant potential of the hydro-distillation effluent fraction. Finally, our results demonstrated the efficiency and profitability of the complete valorisation of agricultural residual biomass, based on an integrated zero-waste approach, for the production of high added-value molecules, paving the way for green biorefineries and a sustainable circular bioeconomy.
