MUMBAI, India, July 24 -- Intellectual Property India has published a patent application (202641081524 A) filed by Nandha Engineering College on July 02, 2026, for Extraction Of ß-Carotene As A Retinol Precursor From Sweet Potato Agro - Waste..
Inventors include Vinoth Kumar B; Jerome J; Mahendran R; Askar Ali A; and Deepika T.
The application for the patent was published on July 17, 2026, under issue no. 29/2026.
Abstract: ABSTRACT OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a process for the recovery of p-carotene from sweet potato agro- waste, particularly from sweet potato peel as a waste, which is generated in large quantities during agricultural and food processing activities. Sweet potato peels are often discarded as waste despite containing significant amounts of p-carotene, a natural carotenoid that serves as a precursor of Vitamin A (Retinol). The present work aims to utilize this waste biomass as a valuable source of bioactive compounds while reducing environmental pollution associated with waste disposal. The process involves the collection of sweet potato peel waste followed by washing to remove dirt and other impurities. The cleaned peels are dried under suitable conditions to reduce moisture content and improve storage stability. The dried material undergoes crushing process to convert into fine powder, it will increase the surface area for extraction process. The powdered peel material is subjected to solvent extraction using suitable solvents capable of dissolving p- carotene. The extraction process facilitates the transfer of p-carotene from the plant matrix into the solvent phase, resulting in a carotenoid-rich extract. The obtained extract is filtered to separate the liquid phase from the residual biomass. The filtrate is then concentrated through solvent removal to obtain a p-carotene-rich product. The recovered p-carotene can be used as a natural source of Vitamin A precursor in Nutraceutical, Pharmaceutical, Food, Cosmetic applications etc., The process provides an economical and practical approach for the recovery of valuable compounds from agricultural waste materials. The invention offers several advantages, including effective utilization of sweet potato agro-waste, reduction of environmental burden caused by biomass disposal, production of a natural bioactive compound and generation of value-added products from low-cost raw materials. The process supports sustainable resource utilization and contributes to the development of environmentally responsible technology for agro-waste management. The Extraction is simple, scalable, and suitable for both small-scale and industrial applications, making it a promising approach for the recovery of p-carotene from sweet potato peel waste as a waste.
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