Department of Chemical Engineering.

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    COMPARATIVE CO-PRODUCTION OF PECTIN AND BIOCHAR FROM PLANTAIN AND BANANA PEELS USING BOX-BEHNKEN DESIGN-BASED PROCESS OPTIMIZATION AND CHARACTERIZATION
    (Covenant University, Ota, 2026-06) EFEONAH, EMMANUEL OKEOGHENE; Covenant University Dissertation
    Agricultural fruit peel wastes represent an abundant biomass resource with significant potential for value addition through integrated biorefinery approaches. However, comparative information on the simultaneous recovery of pectin and biochar from plantain and banana peels under optimized processing conditions remains limited. This study comparatively investigated the co-production of pectin and biochar from plantain and banana peels using a Box–Behnken Design for process optimization and characterization. A three-factor, three-level Box–Behnken Design comprising 17 experimental runs was employed to evaluate the effects of extraction pH (1.5–2.5), temperature (70–90°C), and extraction time (60–120 min) on pectin yield. Pectin was extracted using citric acid, precipitated with ethanol, and characterized for its physicochemical properties, while the residual biomass was carbonized at 550°C for 90 min in covered ceramic crucibles under restricted-oxygen conditions to produce biochar. Response Surface Methodology and analysis of variance showed that extraction conditions significantly influenced pectin recovery from both feedstocks. Numerical optimization predicted optimal extraction conditions of pH 2.277, temperature 84.43°C, and extraction time 107.35 min, corresponding to pectin yields of 9.496% for plantain peels and 6.577% for banana peels, with an overall desirability of 1.000. Experimental validation produced pectin yields of 9.0% and 6.0%, confirming satisfactory agreement between predicted and experimental responses. Physicochemical characterization of the representative pectin sample yielded an equivalent weight of 307.7, methoxyl content of 11.63%, and degree of esterification of 42.61%, confirming the production of low-methoxyl pectin. The produced biochars exhibited BET surface areas ranging from 185.97 to 282.75 m² g⁻¹ and average pore diameters of 4.69–4.86 nm, indicating predominantly mesoporous structures, with sample P5 exhibiting the most favourable textural characteristics. Overall, the study demonstrates that plantain and banana peels are promising feedstocks for co-producing pectin and biochar, thereby supporting sustainable biomass valorization and the development of a circular bioeconomy.