Novel Process Technology for Utilization of Fruit and Vegetable Waste

This Phase II proposal is targeted towards development of novel process technology for profitable utilization of fruit and vegetable wastes. The technology will be used to recover valuable organic soluts, such as flavor and fragrance chemicals, from aqueous waste streams. In Phase I we addressed the recovery of onion flavor from an aqueous waste stream generated during the production of onion oil. We successfully demonstrated the technical and economic feasibility of the proposed process, which relies on selective partitioning of flavor components from the aqueous waste into a food-grade oil. We demonstrated that onion-flavor can be recovered at high concentrations in the product oil and that the overall production costs are very low--about 1% of the oil's selling price. The proposed Phase II program will be focused on optimization of the technology of processing onion wastewater and other target aqueous food wastes, including the recovery of orange essence and organic acids from aqueous wastes. In Phase II we will also construct and test a prototype field-test system, and we will perform comprehensive engineering and economic analyses. The overall goal of the proposed Phase II program is to bring the technology to the point that is can be commericialized in Phase III. A major manufacturer and user of natural flavors has agreed to sign a Follow-On funding Commitment for Phase III. This company recognizes that there is a need for new technology to recover dilute organics from aqueous waste streams in food-processing plants. During Phase II this company will assist through the identification of commercially important streams on which to test the technology and through technical and engineering assistance.