(191c) Development of Green Pathways for the Extraction of Medically Active Components Form Grape Waste

Medical sector growth continues to advance thanks in part to a boom in the biomedical industry. Increased technological advancement of this level has afforded people health and wellness not seen in previous generations leading to longer more productive lives. Growth in the Biomedical can be amenably paired with green technologies to further the field in an environmentally friendly way. Innovation in the use of natural components in health fields as a way of improving health is a most promising direction but is one existing with many bottlenecks. Despite the challenges, these technology shifts are necessary to stay in line with environmental regulation, FDA regulation, and public opinion.

The use of Supercritical CO₂ is growing more and more common in many fields. It can be used singularly, with co-solvent, or as part of more complex systems to process Biomass in a more environmentally friendly way. Waste biomass can be especially useful here. What was once not worth processing and was relegated trash or burning can be processed to obtain high valuable compounds. Grape waste from wineries and juicing facilities consists of seeds, stems, rings, meat, and leaves. Most of this waste has little to no value and is relegated to trash or animal feed. With some creating processing, this waste can be a source of valuable oil as well as high-value antioxidants, polyphenols, and flavanoids. Scale is important in these operations and thus a pilot study is being conducted on this process to find the range of capacities that are profitable for this endeavor.