Waste potato peels, commonly regarded as an agro-industrial byproduct, possess notable yield and quality characteristics that make them valuable for various applications such as bioenergy, animal feed, food additives, and biodegradable materials. The yield of potato peels varies depending on the type of potato and the method used when peeling. One of the main physical characteristics is high moisture content ranging between 75 to 85 percent. This high moisture content affects the storage and shelf life of the peels increasing the risk of microbial action thus spoilage. Despite this factor, potato peels retain a considerable amount of organic material with volatile solids comprising 80% to 90% of their dry matter. This makes them suitable for anaerobic digestion to produce methane gas for biogas production. The potato peels also contain residual starch that accounts to about 15& of their dry weight. The starch can be used in producing bioethanol, bioplastics and other starch derived products.

Waste potato peels

Functionally, potato peels exhibit good water-binding capacity, which makes them useful as thickeners or binding agents in food processing. They also show potential as a source of dietary fiber and prebiotic compounds like resistant starch, which can improve gut health. Due to these characteristics, waste potato peels are increasingly being explored for diverse applications. They can be used to produce bioenergy (biogas and bioethanol), biodegradable plastics, and natural food additives. In the animal feed industry, they can serve as a low-cost supplement, provided they are properly detoxified. Additionally, they are suitable for composting or use as organic fertilizer due to their high nutrient content.