Fruit Processing Industry Research Articles

Multifunctional Pomegranate Peel Microparticles with Health-Promoting Effects for the Sustainable Development of Novel Nutraceuticals and Pharmaceuticals.

Recovering the bioactive components from pomegranate peel (PP) in the fruit-processing industry has attracted great attention in terms of minimizing the waste burden, as well as providing a new source of a multitude of functional compounds. The present study aimed to develop a feasible microencapsulation process of PP extract by using pectin and a pectin/2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) blend as coating materials. Microsized powders obtained by a spray drying technique were examined in terms of technological characteristics, exhibiting high powder yield and desirable moisture content, flowability, and cohesive properties. Assuming that the interactions with the used biopolymers occur on the surface hydrophobic domain, their presence significantly improved the thermal stability of the microencapsulated powders up to 200 °C. The health-promoting effects of PP have been associated with its high content in ellagitannins, particularly punicalagin. The obtained PP powders exhibited strong antioxidant and hypoglycemic potential, while an antimicrobial assay revealed their potent activity against Gram-positive bacteria. Additionally, an in vitro release study suggested that the used biopolymers can modify the release of target bioactive compounds, thus establishing a basis for developing an oral-controlled release system. Altogether, biowaste valorization from PP by the production of effective multifunctional microsized powders represents a sustainable way to obtain novel nutraceuticals and/or pharmaceuticals.

Formulated hydroxy fatty acids from fruit pomaces reduce apple scab development caused by Venturia inaequalis through a dual mode of action.

The outermost hydrophobic layer of plants, i.e. the cuticle, is mainly composed of cutin, a polyester of hydroxy fatty acids with reported eliciting and/or antimicrobial activities for some of them. By-products of the fruit processing industry (fruit pomaces), often strongly enriched in cuticular material, are therefore a potential source of bioactive compounds for crop protection against pathogen attack. We investigated the utilization of tomato and apple pomaces in the development of a cutin-based biocontrol solution against apple scab, a major apple disease caused by Venturia inaequalis. Several cutin monomer extracts obtained through different strategies of depolymerization and purification were first compared for their ability to induce a targeted set of defense genes in apple seedlings after foliar application. After a step of formulation, some extracts were chosen for further investigation in planta and in vitro. Our results show that formulated cutin monomers could trigger a significant transcriptome reprogramming in apple plants and exhibit an antifungal effect on V. inaequalis. Cutin monomers-treated apple seedlings were significantly protected against infection by the apple scab agent. Altogether, our findings suggest that water-dispersed cutin monomers extracted from pomaces are potential new bio-based solutions for the control of apple scab.

Integrated HS-GC–IMS and UPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS-based metabolomics revealed the characteristics and differential volatile and nonvolatile metabolites of different citrus peels

Citrus is an important genus in the Rutaceae family, and citrus peels can be used in both food and herbal medicine. However, the bulk of citrus peels are discarded as waste by the fruit processing industry, causing environmental pollution. This study aimed to provide guidelines for the rational and effective use of citrus peels by elucidating the volatile and nonvolatile metabolites within them using metabolomics based on headspace-gas chromatography–ion mobility spectrometry and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–Q-Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry. In addition, the antioxidant activities of the citrus peels were evaluated using DPPH radical scavenging, ABTS radical scavenging, and ferric reducing antioxidant power. In total, 103 volatile and 53 nonvolatile metabolites were identified and characterized. Alcohols, aldehydes, and terpenes constituted 87.36% of the volatile metabolites, while flavonoids and carboxylic acids accounted for 85.46% of the nonvolatile metabolites. Furthermore, (Z)-2-penten-1-ol, L-pipecolinic acid, and limonin were identified as characteristic components of Citrus reticulata Blanco cv. Ponkan (PK), C. reticulata ‘Unshiu’ (CLU), and C. reticulata ‘Wo Gan’ (WG), respectively. Principal component analysis and partial least squares discriminant analysis indicated that C. reticulata Blanco ‘Chun Jian’ (CJ), PK, CLU, and C. reticulata ‘Dahongpao’ (DHP) were clustered together. DHP is a traditional Chinese medicine documented in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, suggesting that the chemical compositions of CJ, PK, and CLU may also have medicinal values similar to those of DHP. Moreover, DHP, PK, C. reticulata ‘Ai Yuan 38′(AY38), CJ, C. reticulata ‘Gan Ping’(GP), and C. reticulata ‘Qing Jian’(QJ) displayed better antioxidant activities, recommending their use as additives in cosmetics and food. Correlation analysis suggested that some polyphenols including tangeritin, nobiletin, skullcapflavone II, genistein, caffeic acid, and isokaempferide were potential antioxidant compounds in citrus peel. The results of this study deepen our understanding of the differences in metabolites and antioxidant activities of different citrus peel varieties and ultimately provide guidance for the full and rational use of citrus peels.

Analysis of Supply Chain Strategy, Competitiveness, and Business Performance at Passion Fruit Processing Industry in Gowa Regency

Passion fruit products are one of the superior products processed by the agribusiness sector industry in Gowa Regency. In order for the passion fruit processing industry to continue to exist and be sustainable in the market, understanding supply chain strategy, competitiveness and business performance is very important for managers/owners. This study aims to explain and analyse the important elements of supply chain strategy, daylight and business performance. This study uses a quantitative approach, where primary data is obtained from 105 managers or owners through questionnaires on April to July in 2023. Research data was processed and analysed using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The research results show that the main element forming a supply chain strategy is responsiveness. Product quality is a key element in shaping a company's competitiveness, and business performance is more dominantly determined or shaped by the company's sales growth. The implications of this study provide direction for managers of the passion fruit processing industry regarding the importance of responsiveness aspects in implementing supply chain strategies, product quality in developing competitiveness, and sales growth aspects to produce superior performance.

BIOADSORVENTES DE RESÍDUOS DA AGROINDÚSTRIA UTILIZADOS NA REMOÇÃO DE Cd(II)

BIOADSORBENTS FROM AGROINDUSTRIAL WASTE USED IN Cd(II) REMOVAL. The use of agroindustry waste in the synthesis of bioadsorbents provides a solution to reduce the disposal of solid waste in the environment while increasing the added value of recovering locally sourced waste. However, technical and environmental issues must be considered when selecting the appropriate synthesis method to avoid creating a new environmental impact and evaluate the feasibility of applying the method. In this work, yellow mombin, guava and mango seeds were used to synthesize bioadsorbents capable of removing cadmium(II) in solution. The materials were characterized according to their chemical composition, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and evaluated by adsorption kinetics tests. Energy analysis of biomass processing was performed by life cycle analysis (LCA). The bioadsorbents presented typical characteristics of lignocellulosic biomass, with the presence of functional groups favorable to the adsorption of metals and were effective in removing cadmium(II), with efficiency of 95.7, 92.4 and 60.2%, for BSG (guava seed bioadsorbent), BSC (yellow mombin seed bioadsorbent) and BSM (mango seed bioadsorbent), respectively. The error functions provided a more appropriate criterion for analyzing the kinetic data. The methodology proposed in this work is simple to implement and has a low estimated energy demand, therefore being promising for application in small fruit processing industries in the semi-arid region of Bahia.

A Controlled Gas-based Dehydrator for Drying Bananas in The Home Industry

In order to increase the durability and quality of bananas, this research discusses the design of an economical gas-based dehydrator with the application of PID control for valves and gas, specifically for small and medium-scale home industries. The main objective was to develop a cost-effective and efficient solution for drying bananas without sacrificing nutritional quality and taste. The dehydrator system is designed using PID control to obtain accurate and precise temperatures during the drying process. The algorithm is that the PID control will regulate and adjust how much gas is released through the valve based on the difference between the desired and actual temperature in the drying room. The best constants of PID we get are P = 1, I = 2, and D = 3. By applying these constants, the time taken by the system to change a signal from 30oC to 100oC of temperature is about 5 minutes, with a maximum overshoot of about 10%. In addition, the system required 25 minutes to achieve a steady state with an error value of about 5% from the setpoint. From the results of this experiment, it would be declared that the performance of the dehydrator built has indicated good performance. The minimum temperature that could be generated by the dehydrator is 90oC, while the maximum temperature is set 150oC. The experiment shows that this dehydrator can reduce the water content of a 1-2 g banana fruit by up to 50% within 60 minutes and 26% for a 10 g banana fruit mass simultaneously. The results also show that the dehydrator maintained optimal banana fruit quality based on texture, colour, and taste. Thus, these results indicate the great potential of gas-based dehydrators with PID control as an innovative solution for the home fruit processing industry, offering a combination of efficiency and cost-effectiveness

Controlling System of Automatic Microcontroller for Passion Fruit Juice Extractor

The fruits are squeezed to extract their concentrate in fruit processing factories or industries, especially for the purple passion fruit variety. However, separating seeds from the fruit pulp uses a blender, resulting in a mixture of seeds and pulp. In this industry, seeds and fruit pulp are separated using a spinner machine and operated manually by operators. So, adding an automatic mechanism has the potential for optimization and improvement. This research aims to develop a passion fruit squeezing machine with maintenance and automation, upgrading the passion fruit filtering and squeezing spinner machine. The purpose is to control the speed of the passion fruit filtering motor using an AC Dimmer module and create an efficient automated tool for the passion fruit mixer and extractor machine. A squeezing machine is designed by utilizing a counter module to count the incoming passion fruits into the cylinder, and an Arduino Uno is used as the controller to adjust the motor speed using an AC dimmer. The passion fruit filtering machine is operated at a minimum triggering angle of 130 degrees and a maximum triggering angle of 80 degrees, or voltages ranging from 69.9 V to 102 V, with a minimum speed of 780 RPM and a total rate of 1462 RPM, and the squeezing time varies from 2 to 4 minutes.

Comprehensive Update on Carotenoid Colorants from Plants and Microalgae: Challenges and Advances from Research Laboratories to Industry.

The substitution of synthetic food dyes with natural colorants continues to be assiduously pursued. The current list of natural carotenoid colorants consists of plant-derived annatto (bixin and norbixin), paprika (capsanthin and capsorubin), saffron (crocin), tomato and gac fruit lycopene, marigold lutein, and red palm oil (α- and β-carotene), along with microalgal Dunaliella β-carotene and Haematococcus astaxanthin and fungal Blakeslea trispora β-carotene and lycopene. Potential microalgal sources are being sought, especially in relation to lutein, for which commercial plant sources are lacking. Research efforts, manifested in numerous reviews and research papers published in the last decade, have been directed to green extraction, microencapsulation/nanoencapsulation, and valorization of processing by-products. Extraction is shifting from conventional extraction with organic solvents to supercritical CO2 extraction and different types of assisted extraction. Initially intended for the stabilization of the highly degradable carotenoids, additional benefits of encapsulation have been demonstrated, especially the improvement of carotenoid solubility and bioavailability. Instead of searching for new higher plant sources, enormous effort has been directed to the utilization of by-products of the fruit and vegetable processing industry, with the application of biorefinery and circular economy concepts. Amidst enormous research activities, however, the gap between research and industrial implementation remains wide.

Production of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural from apple pomace in deep eutectic solvent

Apple pomace is a waste stream produced by fruit processing industry millions of tons annually. It is rich in carbohydrates making it a potential feedstock for the production of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), one of the most valuable platform chemicals. In this work, the conversion of apple pomace carbohydrates to HMF was studied in a choline chloride:glycolic acid (1:3) deep eutectic solvent. To prevent undesired side reactions of HMF methyl isobutyl ketone was added to the reaction system as an extractive phase. The effect of reaction conditions, i.e., the amount of water added to the reaction system, the presence of Lewis acid co-catalyst, as well as the reaction temperature and time, on HMF yield were studied. The highest total HMF yield (44.5%) was achieved at 110 °C in 10 min with 15 wt% H2O, and 0.01 g CrCl3 as co-catalyst. Without the co-catalyst, the highest achieved HMF yield was 37.3% (120 °C, 20 min, 15 m% H2O). The results indicated that apple pomace can be used as the feedstock for HMF production but the reaction procedure, especially the extraction process of HMF from deep eutectic solvent needs to be studied further.Graphical abstract

Effects of four drying methods on the quality, antioxidant activity and anthocyanin components of blueberry pomace

The effects of drying on the quality, antioxidant activity and anthocyanin components of blueberry pomace were investigated using hot air drying (HAD), freeze-drying (FD), microwave vacuum drying (MVD) and microwave freeze vacuum drying (MFD). The quality, antioxidant activity, and individual anthocyanin compositions of blueberry pomace were evaluated and compared with the non-dried control. MVD produced the highest levels of total phenols, total anthocyanins, total sugars and color values in blueberry pomace while HAD gave the lowest. The ABTS +and DPPH radical scavenging abilities of blueberry pomace were significantly high when MVD was used. Moreover, FD, MVD, and MFD resulted in the retention of significantly more anthocyanin species than HAD as determined by HPLC coupled to the mass spectrometer. Overall, MVD proved to be the best technique for preservation of antioxidant capacity and natural color. Therefore, MVD of blueberry pomace can improve efficiency and productivity of the blueberry fruit processing industry while reducing the environmental burden.Graphical

FINANCIAL EFFICACY OF MANGO FRUIT PROCESSING UNITS IN CHITTOOR DISTRICT OF ANDHRA PRADESH

The liberalisation of Indian economy and world trade and rising consumer prosperity have thrown up new opportunities for diversification in the food processing sector and opened new vistas for growth. The study is an earnest attempt to study the production, Marketing, finance and other general factors of Fruit Processing Units in Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh. The study is based on both primary and secondary data. The Mango fruit processing industry, being at the lowest segment of the food processing industries has not received adequate attention, particularly in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh. The present study is basically non-technical it concentrates on the financial, marketing, production and general issues relating to the mango fruit processing units in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh. A brief review of past researches relevant to the present study is presented. Appropriate suggestions to be offered to tone up the performance of the mango fruit processing industry based on the observations of the study. The study will be of an immense help to the policy makers for formulating appropriate policies and allocating funds for the development of fruit processing industry. The study also is useful to the investors, banks and other financial institutions to take various investment decisions in the sub sector.

Catalytic infrared blanching and drying of carrot slices with different thicknesses: Effects on surface dynamic crusting and quality characterization

This study investigated the effects of catalytic infrared (CIR) as an emerging dry-blanching and dehydration technique on carrot quality and textural properties, and the dynamic surface crusting during blanching was studied under the optimal CIR conditions. Results showed that the surface crusting was observed under all selected conditions and expressed as surface hardness values of carrot slices, which increased over CIR time and slice thickness, reaching 25.29%–38.20% of fresh tissue. Micrographs displayed that cell structure of the carrot surface crust collapsed, and cell deformation degree decreased from the surface to the inside tissue. The cell quantitative parameters were extracted using image processing, and the information on the surface crust of carrot slices was visible through the cell area, perimeter, roundness, and elongation factor. Results showed that the crust cell area and perimeter were higher than the non-crust part, while the roundness and elongation factor was lower than the non-crust tissue. Industrial relevanceCatalytic infrared (CIR) heating, an emerging dry-blanching and dehydration technique, is employed in various fruits and vegetables and has gained more attention due to its prompt attributes of high efficiency and energy-saving. The findings of this study explored the texture properties of carrot slices subjected to CIR treatment, especially the formation mechanism of the surface crusting due to thermal processing, which can provide basis and assistance for the CIR application in the fruit and vegetable processing industry and for regulating the practical producing conditions.

Sustainable Valorisation of Peach and Apricot Waste Using Green Extraction Technique with Conventional and Deep Eutectic Solvents

Worldwide, fruit processing industries reject high volumes of fruit waste, which represent rich sources of phenolic compounds and can be valorised through extraction, and then be reused for food, nutraceutical or cosmetic applications. In the present work, the optimisation of the recovery of phenolic compounds from apricot kernels and pulp, as well as peach pulp, through the green method of ultrasound and microwave assisted extraction (UMAE) is performed. Prior to extraction, a drying step of the pulps is conducted using freeze, vacuum and hot air drying. Except for the conventional extraction solvents of water and ethanol:water, a deep eutectic solvent (DES) formed by choline chloride/urea, and a natural deep eutectic solvent (NaDES) from choline chloride with lactic acid, are used, something that presentsecological benefits. With the aim of discovering the optimum extraction conditions, different values of the parameters of extraction time, utrasonic power and solvent/dry solid ratio are examined, and a mathematical model is developed to correlate them to the extraction yield (EY). The phenolic compounds and the antioxidant activity are determined through UV-Vis spectroscopy and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The results of the study demonstrated that the most effective solvent in the extraction of apricot kernels is ethanol: water; DES is more efficient in the extraction of apricot pulp and NaDES in the extraction of peach pulps, reaching EYs of 25.65, 26.83 and 17.13%, respectively. In conclusion, both types of fruit waste are proved to have a significant content of valuable compounds, and the use of DES in fruit by-product extraction is effective and seems to be a promising alternative. Thus, the unexploited amounts of waste can be valorised through simple techniques and innovative solvents.

Antibacterial, antifungal, antifeedent and larval mortality percent of solvent extraction of mango kernel (Mangifera indica L.) cv. Totapuri

Mango (Mangifera indica L.) is a seasonal fruit and is cultivated extensively in tropical and subtropical region in India and worldwide. The fruit is processed and mango pulp is extracted in fruit processing industries and kernel is unutilized as industrial waste. Hence, in the present study focused on Totapuri mango kernel cultivar was taken to utilize for bio product development. Soxhlet apparatus with different solvents was used for the crude bioactive compounds extraction from mango kernel powder. The extracted bioactive mass was evaluated for its antibacterial activity against bacterial strains such as Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas putida, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Shigella sonnei, Klebsiella pneumonia, Xanthomonas oryzae and Staphylococcus aureuss. Further, the extracted crude bioactive compound was tested for antifungal activity against Rhizactonia solani, Curvularia lunata, Alternaria alternate and Fusarium oxysporum. The antifeedent and larval mortality of Spodoptera litura and Helicoverpa armigera activity was studied using the bioactive compound extract. The Methanol Mango Kernel extract (MeOH MK) recorded growth inhibition zone for all the bacteria tested ranging from 21±0.31 to 24±1.55 mm. At 5 % MeOH MK crude extract concentration, the fungal mycelia growth of R. solani was inhibited by 92.90 ± 0.31 %. The highest percent of antifeedent activity was observed in 5% MeOH MK extract recorded as 77.37 %± 0.75 for S.litura and 55. 1.06 for H.armigera. The crude extract of MeOH MK at 5 % concentration recorded 17.8 %± 2.2 mortality rate for S. leutira larva and 100 % mortality rate for H. armigra. The MeOH MK extract was effective as antibacterial, antifungal, antifeedent and larval mortality.

Fruit By-Products and Their Industrial Applications for Nutritional Benefits and Health Promotion: A Comprehensive Review

Fresh and processed fruits are commonly used to prepare different industrial products with superior nutritional and health-promoting properties. Currently, the demand for processed-fruit products has motivated the rapid growth of fruit-processing industries, persuading them to produce an enormous number of by-products. Furthermore, people’s shifting dietary habits and lack of awareness of nutritional properties result in a large number of fruit by-products. The lack of knowledge about the value of by-products urges the exploration of proper documents that emphasize the health benefits of such products. Hence, this article was prepared by carefully reviewing the recent literature on industrial applications of fruit by-products and their nutritional and health-promoting properties. The use of fruit by-products in food industries for various purposes has been reported in the past and has been reviewed and described here. Fruit by-products are a good source of nutrients and bioactive components, including polyphenols, dietary fibers, and vitamins, implying that they could have an important role for novel, value-added functional food properties. Furthermore, fruit by-products are used as the substrate to produce organic acids, essential oils, enzymes, fuel, biodegradable packaging materials, and preservatives.

Utilization of Fruit Wastes by Preparing Cakes and Cookies - A Budget Friendly Application in Food Industry

A large number of fruit wastes are generated from fruit processing industries in both solid and liquid form, which are rich in nutrients and have health benefits also. Utilizing fruit wastes, food product development is an innovative way to reduce the fruit wastes in environment. In this study, mixture of watermelon rind and orange peel in the ratio 1:1 (w/w) was used to make cake and cookies. Both the bakery products are very nutritious as well as pocket-friendly. It is also used as the source for gluten free which is beneficial for gluten sensitive people and is also eco-friendly. From the result, it was observed that, the lower percentage of moisture content is best accepted for cookies. For cakes, the moisture content increased from 12.62% to 17.43%. The higher percentage of moisture content is best accepted for cakes.

Solar-powered algal production on vegetable processing industry wastewater at pilot scale

Τhis paper proposed a sustainable treatment scheme for effluents from fruit and vegetable processing industries with high organic load that combined heterotrophic microalgae cultivation with microalgae spray drying producing end-products of commercial interest (biofertilisers and/or animal feed). A pilot plant was operated with feedstock from a fruit and vegetable processing industry and its final products were assessed. The pilot plant was powered by renewable energy (solar energy supported by biomass), which minimized the carbon footprint and operating costs of the process. Through the ultimate analysis of the produced algae, it was evident that in all cases it could be commercialized as a solid NPK organic fertilizer being in line with the respective EU and Spanish legislation framework. As far as the animal feed perspective is concerned, the end-product of the pilot plant could be efficiently included in the feed of various animals, substituting a significant part of the animal feed required. The results from the implementation were used for the design of a full-scale implementation of the innovative treatment scheme, proving that 1.26 ton/d of microalgae could be produced, which could be later used as fertiliser and/or animal feed from the daily wastewater production of a medium sized fruit and vegetable processing company. From an environmental perspective, the proposed solution provides a gold standard example of the circular economy concept, since 1.15 kg CO2 equivalent per kg of sludge avoided could be saved. Additionally, the use of renewable energy (solar and biomass) will result in a saving of 0.531 kg of CO2 emissions per kWh consumed. Conclusively, the proposed treatment scheme could meet circularity and sustainability since the end-products quality permits their integration into new value chains.

Supercritical fluid extraction of bioactives from fruit waste and its therapeutic potential

Fruits are a rich source of bioactive compounds and form a major component of the total horticultural produce. Unfortunately, fruit wastes that contains a wide range of bioactive compounds such as phenolics, minerals, dietary fibre, vitamins, oils, and enzymes, to name a few, are discarded. The post-processing by-products of fruit processing industries include the peel, pomace, and seeds. Owing to the presence substantial contents of bioactive compounds, these fruit by-products have been explored for the recovery of bioactives using several extraction techniques. Amongst the various techniques studied for the extraction of bioactives, supercritical fluid extraction (SCFE) has captured the interest of researchers, mainly because it overcomes the limitations posed by conventional extraction methods. This review discusses SCFE as a green technique for the extraction of bioactives (polyphenols, vitamins, pigments and fatty acids) from fruit wastes, and factors that affect SCFE therefrom. Furthermore, the bioactivities of these components such as anti-diabetic, anti-oxidants, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-cancer, cardioprotective, and neuroprotective agents have been highlighted. Lastly, future prospects of using SCFE for ensuring optimal extraction of bioactives and their potential biological and food applications have been discussed.

Fruit Ripeness Classification System Using Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) Method

The increasing consumer demand in the fruit industry has also demanded that various sectors of the fruit processing industry be able to adapt to this situation. The demand for good quality and fresh fruit requires technological advances and supporting systems that can be used in the fruit processing industry to produce the best quality fruit. Referring to this, this study aims to detect the type and maturity of fruit using machine learning with the CNN (Convolutional Neural Network) method using the function of a camera that is integrated with the program algorithm. This research is a refinement of previous research that has been made at the university by increasing the ability to read objects based on color with different methods. In this programming language, Python also requires several additional libraries to carry out the object detection process, namely by using the cvzone library as the main library. This study shows that the detection of fruit and ripeness using the CNN method was successful in detecting the type and maturity of the fruit. In the design and trial of this research, it can run well according to the algorithm created by the researcher. The success rate and accuracy of the detection of the type and maturity of this fruit reach 90%.

Improvement of energy properties of lignocellulosic waste by thermochemical conversion into biochar

Peach stones, a valuable agro-industrial by-product available in many countries worldwide, comprise a renewable resource, which can be widely applied for multifunctional purposes. Its important advantages such as high-energy value, low ash content, low price and wide abundance, make peach stones an ideal fuel for energy production, but also for new materials synthesis. Although peach stones exhibit adequate combustion properties, allowing their direct use with minimal physical/chemical treatment, they often need further modification in order to improve their thermal properties, where slow pyrolysis is frequently used. This study aims to provide a practical and effective solution to the revalorization of waste biomass originating from the fruit processing industry, through slow pyrolysis in order to convert this waste into carbonaceous material-biochar. The thermo-chemical conversion of raw biomass resulted in a stable material with excellent fuel properties, with higher mass energy density and grinding ability, providing biochar with properties, in energy sense, similar or even better than a coal. Biochar has a higher fixed carbon content and a higher energy potential than biomass itself, and its application as a biofuel might reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, as it reduces the amount of waste landed and increases the share of energy generated from renewable sources.