Avocado Seed Waste as a Green Catalyst for the Sustainable Oxidation of Limonene with Molecular Oxygen

• DOI: 10.3390/su17093923
• Publication Date: 2025-04-28T15:48:33Z
• Authors: Sylwia Gajewska; Joanna Siemak; Agnieszka Wróblewska; Beata Michalkiewicz
• Keywords: Molecular oxygen

Avocado is a rich source of numerous nutrients, such as micro- and macroelements, essential unsaturated fatty acids, vitamins for the correct functioning body. Consequently, its consumption has significantly increased in recent years. The primary edible part fruit flesh, while seed still considered biowaste. Currently, various methods utilization this biowaste are being explored, prompting authors work to investigate catalytic properties ground avocado seeds. Dried, seeds were used catalyst environmentally friendly oxidation limonene with oxygen. process was carried out mild conditions, without use any solvent at atmospheric pressure. studies examined influence temperature (70–110 °C), amount (0.5–5.0 wt%), reaction time (15–360 min). analyses post-reaction mixtures performed using gas chromatography method (GC). maximum value conversion obtained during tests 36 mol%. main products follows: 1,2-epoxylimonene, carveol, perillyl alcohol. Also, following compounds determined mixtures: carvone 1,2-epoxylimonene diol. studied interesting, taking into account both management waste form possible wide applications transformation medicine, cosmetics food industry. Given that now increasingly extracted from orange peels, also good way manage future naturally derived reduce peels. presented fit perfectly goals sustainable development circular economy may be basis “green technology” obtaining value-added oxygenated derivatives limonene. These show biomass obtain green catalyst. In context, our research presents an effective valorization.