SBIR Phase II: Sequential Hydrothermal Extraction (SeqHTE) for Recovering Bioactive Compounds from Potato Peels and Agricultural By-products

The goal of this application is to commercialize sequential extraction technology for harvesting polyphenols and dietary fibers from potato peels a by-product of potato processing. This technology was validated during Phase I research with satisfactory results. The project has four objectives to move the technology to the next level of commercialization: (1) demonstrating the performance of the technology at the pilot scale (2) further improving the processes and optimizing the system (3) evaluating the products for target applications and (4) conducting energy and techno-economic analysis for commercial demonstration. The project will be executed by a proficient team collaborating with university researchers and another small business. The anticipated outputs of the project are an enabling technology with demonstrated technical performance and feasibility along with engineering design and operational principles and product data for the next step of scale-up and commercialization. By addressing the increasing demand for natural polyphenols and dietary fiber in functional foods and beverages the project aligns with the "Food Quality-Engineering" priority area (8.5) of the USDA SBIR program. The US markets for natural polyphenols and dietary fiber are substantial and growing rapidly with global markets being even larger. Furthermore the technology's versatility allows for the valorization of various fruit processing wastes broadening its applications and market potential. Success in this project will not only contribute to the efficient utilization of agricultural by-products but also maximize the impact of the USDA SBIR program by introducing innovative technologies to meet evolving market demands.