Mr. Chandan Kumar Sahu will present his APS as per the details below:

Time: 1500 - 1600 hrs.

Venue: C-TARA Conference Room No.2

Topic: Production and applications of biochemicals from onion peel waste

Guide: Prof. Amit Arora

RPC Members: Prof. Shireesh B. Kedare and Prof. Satish B Agnihotri

Abstract:

Onion peel, an underutilized agro-waste, was valorized through an integrated green biorefinery to recover high-value nutraceuticals and materials. This work involved optimizing hybrid extractions (enzymatic–hydrothermal–microwave/DES) to isolate anthocyanins, quercetin, and pectin, and scaling quercetin-rich powder production from lab to pilot. Comprehensive characterization (proximate, UV-Vis, FTIR, HPLC, XRD, SEM, TGA) confirmed high phenolic load, strong antioxidant activity (DPPH IC50 ~27 μg mL⁻¹), and pectin with functional DE and rheology. Extracts fortified prototype foods (e.g., pizza bases), improving antioxidant capacity, color, and acceptability, while gelatin–glycerol films incorporating peel actives exhibited enhanced tensile properties, reduced WVTR, and antimicrobial efficacy. A process model for 1 TPD onion peel assessed mass-energy balances, utilities, and CAPEX/OPEX, yielding positive NPV, IRR, and short payback under Indian cost scenarios, with sensitivity and risk analyses. The work delivers validated recipes, scale-ready unit operations, and techno-economic evidence that onion peel can underpin profitable, circular bio-manufacturing for food, nutraceutical, and packaging sectors.