Hazelnut Pomace Transformed into Value Through TÜBİTAK-Supported Project
· Dünya Gazetesi
Bursa Technical University aims to provide high value-added raw materials to the food and biotechnology sectors by separating hazelnut pomace, generated after hazelnut oil production, using ultrasonic technology.
Hazelnut Pomace Receives TÜBİTAK Support for Value Transformation
Bursa Technical University has taken a significant step to bring hazelnut pomace, which emerges after hazelnut oil production and is mostly used as low-value animal feed, into the economy. Within the scope of the study conducted with TÜBİTAK support, the aim is to separate the protein, fat, and polysaccharides contained in the rich pomace. Considering Turkey's leading position in global hazelnut production, transforming the residue left from the oil industry into value-added products holds the potential to provide significant economic contribution to the agricultural industry.
Simultaneous Separation with Ultrasonic Technology
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Furkan Türker Sarıcaoğlu, who is leading the project, announced that an innovative extraction method utilizing sound waves will be applied in the study. Thanks to the Ultrasonic-Assisted Three-Phase Partitioning technique, valuable components in the pomace will be separated in a single process and in a much shorter time. The effectiveness of this modern technique, developed during the scientific research process, will be compared with traditional methods, and the resulting efficiency data will be presented to the sector. This will make it possible to recover agricultural wastes with less energy consumption.
New Opportunities in Food and Biotechnology
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Furkan Türker Sarıcaoğlu, a faculty member at BTÜ's Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Department of Food Engineering, stated that the obtained natural components will be used in plant-based functional foods and biotechnology, and made the following assessment:
"We expect the research to contribute both to the utilization of by-products generated in the hazelnut sector and to the spread of an environmentally friendly and sustainable production approach. Furthermore, we aim to offer new opportunities to the national economy by transforming a low-value waste into high value-added products."
Thanks to the developed method, organic wastes generated in the industry will be converted into high-income raw materials without harming the environment.
Economic Value of Agricultural By-Products
Emphasizing the importance of university-industry collaboration, Bursa Technical University Rector Prof. Dr. Naci Çağlar said the following about the project:
"The transformation of by-products generated during agricultural production into high value-added products is of great importance for both sustainability and the economic development of our country. This project, supported by TÜBİTAK, aims to bring the part of hazelnut, a product of strategic importance to our country, which is considered waste, into the economy. I congratulate our academician and their team for carrying out this valuable work, which reflects our university's research-oriented approach, and I believe the project will make significant contributions to the world of science and our country."