Potato pulp: Agricultural waste with technical potential

Frank Mayer

Net Journal of Agricultural Science
Published: October 25 2016
Volume 4, Issue 4
Pages 56-57

Abstract

The potato-processing industry has developed methods for providing effective removal of settleable and dissolved solids from potato-processing wastes. Potato pulp is a waste product when potato starch is produced. It consists of potato peel, remnants of the cell walls, traces of starch and 85 to 90 percent water with dissolved mineral salts. Usually, most of the potato pulp is used as cattle feed. We developed approaches that demonstrate potato pulp has, in addition, some technical potentials. Addition of dried potato pulp granules to the mass (woodchips) used for the production of particle boards (e.g. components of furniture such as wardrobe closets) results in a drastic reduction of the amount of formaldehyde or isocyanate usually applied as a “glue” for mechanically stable particle boards. A variation is the treatment of potato pulp by pressure release resulting in a fine powder, after drying process. It can be emulsified in water and then be used as a glue replacing conventional glues for paper products, provided heat and pressure are applied for a proper function.

Keywords: Potato starch, potato pulp, technical potential, particle boards, glue.

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