Tribo-Electrostatic Biorefining of Fruit and Vegetable By-Products: Tribocharging-Enabled Recovery of Proteins, Fibers, Starches and Phytochemicals for Sustainable Functional Food Systems

Fruit and vegetable processing generates large volumes of by-products rich in proteins, dietary fibers, starches, lipids, and bioactive compounds, yet their valorization is often constrained by solvent-intensive extraction methods. This review highlights tribo-electrostatic separation (TES) as an advanced solvent-free dry fractionation technology for sustainable recovery of value-added ingredients from horticultural residues. Recent advances in electrostatic processing and powder engineering demonstrate the potential of TES to selectively enrich functional components with lower energy and environmental burdens. However, biomass heterogeneity, hygroscopicity, and complex surface chemistry remain key challenges affecting separation efficiency. Integrating electrostatics, powder science, and food biorefinery principles could accelerate industrial-scale TES implementation and support sustainable resource utilization.