Ms. Poornima will present her Ph.D. defense as per the details below:
Date: 13th March 2025
Time: 2.00 p.m. (India), 7.30 p.m. (Australia)
Venue: Academy Telepresence Room, Ground Floor, IITB-Monash
Zoom link details for those joining online:
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Title: of the thesis: Development of a Sustainable Integrated Biorefinery from Pineapple Leaf Waste
Supervisors: Prof. Warren Batchelor, Prof. Amit Arora, Prof. Antonio Patti
Internal Examiner: Prof. Yogendra Shastri
External Examiner: Prof. P Srinivasa Rao, IIT Kharagpur
Chairperson: Prof. Subhankar Karmakar
Abstract:
Global pineapple production reached 29.4 million MT in 2022, generating up to 80% of on-farm waste, primarily leaves, which are often burned, causing environmental pollution. Rich in cellulose (~30%), hemicellulose (~26%), lignin (~8%), and extractives (~32%), pineapple leaves offer significant value addition potential. This study developed a sustainable biorefinery utilizing green hydrothermal treatment for nanocellulose (2–100 nm) extraction, optimizing bleaching necessity. Unbleached nanocellulose exhibited superior yield (39%), high aspect ratio (155), nanofiber efficiency, and stability due to the retention of optimal amounts of lignin and hemicellulose. Hydrothermal liquor was valorized into xylooligosaccharides (XOS) with ~70% purity using membrane separation, while xylose was obtained with 97% purity via dilute acid hydrolysis. Polyphenol extraction with membrane separation achieved 77% purity, demonstrating strong antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. The extracted nanocellulose holds promise for packaging and composite applications. Xylooligosaccharides serve as prebiotic food ingredients and nutraceuticals, while polyphenols offer antioxidant properties for pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and functional foods. Xylose acts as a precursor for biofuels and biochemicals. The techno-economic analysis confirmed financial viability (38% IRR), with CNF+PP being the most profitable scenario (40% IRR). This biorefinery model supports rural livelihoods by creating new revenue streams for farmers and strengthening the agricultural sector while promoting a circular bioeconomy with zero waste.