Research Topic: Ionic Liquid-Enabled Valorization of Tea Waste: Bioactive Recovery, DownstreamProcessing, and Bioconversion
Abstract: ** Lecture will be given in English**
Tea waste (TW), a lignocellulosic-rich byproductgenerated during beverage processing of Camellia sinensis, remains anunderutilized source of catechins, caffeine, phenolics, and other functionalcompounds. However, the efficient valorization of TW as a source of functionalingredients is constrained by its complex plant matrix, the thermal sensitivityof many bioactive compounds, and the need for effective downstream strategiesto recover target compounds from multi-component extraction systems. This work investigatedan integrated ionic liquid (IL)-enabled approach to enhance the recovery,handling, transformation, and monitoring of value-added compounds derived fromTW.
1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (BMIMCl) and1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (EMIMCl) were evaluated as alternativemedia to improve the accessibility and recovery of TW-derived bioactives. Theirroles were examined with respect to extraction efficiency, compound stability,matrix modification, and downstream processing of IL-containing extracts.Beyond direct extraction, the approach was further extended to microbialsolid-state bioconversion, where IL-assisted systems were employed to promote transformationof the TW matrix and enhance the recovery of functional fractions. Chemical,structural, and volatile-profile-based analyses were applied to characterizeprocess-dependent changes and to support interpretation of TW transformationacross different processing stages.
This study presents a broader framework for TWvalorization by integrating IL-mediated recovery, downstream processing,microbial bioconversion, and process monitoring. The findings support thedevelopment of TW as a recoverable source of functional bioactive compoundswhile offering flexibility for the design of more sustainable and monitorablewaste valorization processes.
