Pineapple Agro-Industrial Wastes to Produce Biomedical Applications Post-COVID-19 Pandemic: Biorefinery and the Circular Economy

Abstract

Pineapple is a highly demanded fruit in international markets, thanks to its unique appearance and flavor, high fiber content, vitamins, folic acid, and minerals. It makes the pineapple production and processing market a significant source of income for producing countries, such as Costa Rica. Nowadays, its processing produces a large amount of waste with negative consequences for the environment. However, pineapple waste is an essential source of cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, and other high-value products like enzymes (bromelain). These by-products can be obtained by pineapple waste biorefinery, generating an additional source of export goods and foreign currency, framing pineapple processing in the concept of the circular economy. This review discusses how incorporating biorefinery in the pineapple production processes can contribute to the post-COVID 19 economy in Costa Rica. Pineapple production in Costa Rica is explored, and the contamination of generated residues is delineated. Furthermore, the primary processes for by-product extraction via biorefinery, their general characteristics and applications in the medical field, and their contribution to the circular economy are presented.

An Overview on Wood Waste Valorization as Biopolymers and Biocomposites: Definition, Classification, Production, Properties and Applications

“…Among them, Cui et al [236] tested aqueous-based hydrogels from cellulose derived from industrial durian rind waste, fortified with glycerol to obtain organohydrogels, which proved to be suitable for antimicrobial wound dressing, even under extreme thermal conditions (for example, −30 • C). In their work, Amores-Monge et al [237] investigated the opportunity to build a high-profit market that focuses on the production of products (i.e., cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin and enzymes) with biomedical applications from waste obtained from pineapple (Bromeliaceae family); among them, the proteolytic enzyme bromelain was found to have an essential application in skin reconstitution [237].…”