Integrated processes for the optimal valorization of food processing by-products: The case study of Tunisia

4^th International Conference on Bioprocess and Bio Therapeutics

October 20-21, 2016 Houston, USA

Samia Azabou

University of Sfax, Tunisia

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Bioproces Biotechniq

Abstract :

Food industry generates high amounts of solid wastes and high volumes of effluents with an organic component. These by-products result into significant disposal problems that require urgent solution to avoid serious environmental contamination. In Tunisia, two typical by-products are yearly generated in huge amounts from the agri-food industries such as olive mill wastewaters (OMW) and tomato pomace (TP). Biomethanation was tested with success to valorize OMW into biogas using different bioreactor concepts like jet-loop anaerobic membrane bioreactor and anaerobic filter. Moreover, in order to enhance biogas production efficiency, we have detoxified crude OMW after its catalytic oxidation. In fact, a process combining catalytic oxidation operated at 50�°C for OMW detoxification followed by anaerobic digestion process may be a promising technology for continuous industrial depollution process. Up to tomato pomace, we have demonstrated that crude enzymes extract produced by solid state fermentation of Fusarium solani pisi on TP is a fruitful method for the enhancement of lycopene extraction. The best lycopene extraction yield was obtained under the following enzymatic pretreatment conditions: Extraction pH=8, extraction temperature=50�°C, solid-to-crude enzymes solution ratio =1/30 (w/v) and particle size between 0.8 and 1.25 mm. Moreover, along with lycopene, other bioactive compounds were detected such as phenolic acids and flavonoids which may contribute to the antioxidant activity of the extract. Therefore, industrial biotechnology can offer effective strategies and tools for the re-utilization and valorization of by-products from the food industry, thus achieving a significant increase of environmental, social and economic sustainability for Tunisia.

Biography :

Email: azabousamia@yahoo.fr