Pre-processing Waste Tomatoes into Separated Streams with the Intention of Recovering Protein: Towards an Integrated Fruit and Vegetable Biorefinery Approach to Waste Minimization

Abstract Purpose A large proportion of the European Union’s tomato crop is discarded during harvesting and there a valorisation potential to recover proteins from this waste. Methods Cherry tomatoes were segregated into three separate components: juice, pomace (peels skins), seeds. The peels skins, seeds separately hydrolyzed with carbohydrases determine whether protein recovery could be increased. In addition, strategy fractionate was developed using sequential washing milled seeds, followed by low-speed centrifugation remove denser seed hulls collect rich kernels remaining in suspension. Results content highest 27.4% while skins contained 7.6%. Carbohydrase mediated hydrolysis resulted minor increase 10% Filta 02L (cellulase, xylanase ?-glucanase), quantity recovered increased 210% Tail 157 (pectinase, hemicellulase). two fractions, revealed that higher fibre (65%) associated hull fraction compared original (47%). significant composed lignin although contents between both fractions similar ranging 27.4 29.9%. Conclusions These results reveal quite effective extraction but not An alternative containing dietary where oil removed at stage. Graphical