Picked apples on orchard. Photo by Jill Wellington from Pixabay.
Researchers at the University of Adelaide have identified a ‘greener’ process for extracting health-promoting molecules found in agricultural and food waste, which can be repurposed in products such as skincare and pharmaceuticals.
In a study published in Green Chemistry, the researchers trialed the use of greener solvents to collect compounds found in apple pomace known for their powerful antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-diabetes and anti-inflammatory properties.
Co-author of the study, researcher Dr Long Yu from the University of Adelaide’s School of Agriculture, Food and Wine said: “Apple-processing industries generate tonnes of waste and by-products every year.