Upcycled apple pomace porous biobased materials for food and agriculture applications
A versatile material platform that upcycles apple pomace into tunable porous biobased structures for cushioning, active packaging, and controlled release of food-compatible active compounds in pre- and postharvest applications.
Overview
This project develops a versatile material platform that upcycles apple pomace — an abundant food-processing side stream rich in cellulose, hemicellulose, and pectin — into highly porous biobased materials for food and agricultural applications. The platform addresses two pressing needs: reducing crop, postharvest, and packaging-related losses, and creating high-value uses for an underutilized agricultural side stream.
Two complementary processing routes yield materials that can serve as adaptable platforms for cushioning and active packaging, as well as porous carriers for food-compatible active compounds used in pre- and postharvest spray coatings. The tunable porous structures enable moisture management, active-compound loading, and controlled release across multiple application areas.
Technical specifications
Processing routes:
- Molded apple-pomace structures followed by freeze-drying to produce lightweight porous cushioning materials
- Aerogels produced through water washing, ethanol solvent exchange, and supercritical CO₂ drying to preserve porous networks
Key capabilities:
- Tunable porosity, density, moisture management, and mechanical properties achieved through processing optimization
- Porous structures function as carriers for food-compatible active compounds
- Loading, retention, and controlled release of active compounds for active packaging and pre-/postharvest spray coatings
Feedstock characterization:
- Cellulose, hemicellulose, pectin, lignin, moisture, and fiber properties will be characterized to establish relationships between feedstock composition and material performance
- Processing conditions optimized to control porosity, density, moisture management, and mechanical properties
Technology readiness level
The technology is at an early development stage. Current work focuses on characterizing apple pomace feedstock, developing and optimizing the two processing routes, and evaluating porous materials as active-compound carriers. Performance, process efficiency, energy and chemical use, cost, and compatibility with commercial manufacturing will be compared to identify pathways for scale-up and implementation.
About Oregon State University
Oregon State University is a comprehensive public research university and Oregon’s land‑grant institution, with a main campus in Corvallis and a statewide footprint. Industry partners tap a statewide Extension network and county offices to pilot and scale solutions with communities and companies across Oregon. A coastal marine science campus in Newport anchors ocean research and provides access to open‑ocean wave‑energy test ranges and grid‑connected infrastructure under development nearby, enabling sea‑to‑shore prototyping. Field stations and university‑managed research forests support long‑term trials and product validation in real‑world environments. A dedicated technology transfer office and the OSU Advantage programs—including the Advantage Accelerator—streamline IP, licensing, startup formation, and industry agreements.
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