SEEDING CIRCULAR ECONOMY FOR UPCYCLING FOOD INDUSTRY WASTE

The major goal of this project is to explore the potential of acid whey, a byproduct from Greek Yogurt industry, as a sustainable source for the development of a novel whitening agent that can replace titanium dioxide (TiO2) in food products. To achieve this goal, we have identified the following objectives:Obj.1) Optimizing the best formulations from upcycled acid whey and millet matrix to develop novel white powders. One of the primary objectives of this project is to develop a novel whitening agent from acid whey that is both effective and sustainable. We plan to achieve this objective by exploring different formulations of acid whey and millets (Finger and Pearl Millet) to determine the most effective and efficient combination. A spray dryer will be used in the development of the novel white powder. Optimization of processing parameters, inlet temperature, aspirator %, and flow rate using RSM combinations to obtain novel white powder. Spray drying using the response surface method, and screening using physical characterization will help to identify the best three novel white combinations that could replace TiO2.Obj. 2) Scaling up of the novel white powder by following risk assessment guidelines and uncertainty analysis evaluation. Once we have optimized the formulation for the novel whitening agent, the next objective is to scale up the production process to make it viable for commercial use. We will follow risk assessment guidelines to ensure that the product is safe and free of any contaminants. We will evaluate the potential risks associated with the use of the novel whitening agent, using physical and chemical characterizations (HPLC, SEM, TEM, EDS, ICP-MS) and develop a risk assessment digital map by compiling all data from characterization methods.We will also conduct pilot studies to evaluate the feasibility of the production process and identify any potential bottlenecks or challenges that may arise during scale-up.