Characterization and sustainable utilization of Punica granatum and Citrus limetta peels: Insights for biomass valorization

The sustainable valorization of agricultural biomass waste is gaining momentum as an effective waste management strategy. Pomegranate (Punica granatum) and sweet lemon (Citrus limetta) peels, abundant by-products from the fruit processing industry, are currently underutilized and discarded as waste. This study aims to assess the suitability of pomegranate and sweet lemon peels for sustainable biomass valorization through a comprehensive characterization study. Biomass waste is processed and subsequently, various characterization techniques are applied to unveil its intrinsic properties. These methods encompass Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM), Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Elemental analysis reveals the predominance of carbon and oxygen in both peel types. Pomegranate peels and sweet lemon peels exhibit carbon content of 56.43% and 55.89%, respectively. FTIR analysis revealed a diverse range of functional groups in both peel types. Pomegranate peels contain O–H, C-H, C = O, C = C, O–H, C-N, C-O, C = C, and C–Cl. Whereas, sweet lemon peels display functional groups including O–H, C-H, N–H, C-O, C = O, and C-N. The findings indicate that the biomass derived from pomegranate and sweet lemon peels holds potential for efficacious resource utilization.