Optimization of Ultrasonic-Assisted Extraction of Polyphenols from Pomegranate Peel Bio-Wastes

Advances in Food Science and Technology | Vol. 14, No. 3, March 2026 | pp. 001–006

ISSN: 6732-4215

Article Type: Original Research Paper

Title: Optimization of Ultrasonic-Assisted Extraction of Polyphenols from Pomegranate Peel Bio-Wastes

Names of Authors: Amina Al-Mansoor¹, Dieter Schmidt²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Department of Food Science, King Fahd University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; ²Institute of Food Technology, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany

Abstract: Industrial processing of pomegranate fruits generates substantial volumes of peel residues that cause disposal issues despite containing high concentrations of bioactive compounds. This study optimization focused on maximizing the recovery of total phenolic content (TPC) from pomegranate peel bio-wastes using ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE). A central composite design (CCD) under Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was implemented to evaluate independent processing variables. The extraction conditions evaluated included ethanol concentration (40% to 80%), extraction temperature (30 °C to 70 °C), and sonic power density (150 W to 350 W). The optimized extraction conditions were established at an ethanol fraction of 62.5%, an extraction temperature of 52.4 °C, and a processing duration of 22.5 min. Under these parameters, the practical yield of TPC achieved 245.8 ± 3.4 mg gallic acid equivalents per gram of dry matter (mg GAE/g DM). This yield closely matched the projected value derived from our polynomial regression equations (p < 0.01). The structural integrity of recovered extracts was confirmed via high-performance liquid chromatography, showing high quantities of punicalagin. This optimized method provides an efficient blueprint for transforming agri-food waste into high-value functional ingredients for wellness products.

Keywords: Pomegranate Peel, Bio-Waste Valorization, Ultrasonic Extraction, Response Surface Methodology, Polyphenols, Antioxidant Activity

Manuscript Timeline: Received: November 12, 2025; Revised: January 08, 2026; Accepted: February 14, 2026; Published: March 04, 2026

Citation: Al-Mansoor, A., & Schmidt, D. (2026). Optimization of Ultrasonic-Assisted Extraction of Polyphenols from Pomegranate Peel Bio-Wastes. Advances in Food Science and Technology, 14(6), 001–006.

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