ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Zero waste valorization of whole orange: from natural chemical constituents to applications in food, cosmetics, and materials

Lu Thi Mong Thy, Doan Thi Minh Phuong, Huynh Bao Long, Nguyen Tien Dat, and Nguyen Minh Dat

Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

E-mail: thyltm@huit.edu.vn

Received: 18 December 2025  Accepted: 9 April 2026

Abstract:

Oranges (Citrus sinensis) are produced at tens of millions of tons annually, yet juice manufacturing still discards over half of the fruit mass as low‑value residues. In this review, a zero‑waste valorization roadmap for the whole orange is outlined, integrating natural‑product chemistry with enabling technologies across food, cosmetics, environmental remediation, and energy materials. Evidence on orange‑juice constituents, including vitamin C, flavanones (e.g., hesperidin, naringin), organic acids, and carotenoids, is synthesized with emphasis on bioaccessibility, antioxidant and cardiometabolic actions, skin benefits, and processing strategies (e.g., ultrasonication, heat) that preserve bioactives. Orange‑peel essential oil, dominated by limonene, is examined with nanodelivery approaches (zein nanoparticles, nanoemulsions) that overcome volatility and solubility limitations, enabling antimicrobial food packaging and agricultural applications. Peel residues are upcycled into high‑surface‑area carbonaceous structures and magnetic/composite derivatives for water decontamination and high‑performance supercapacitor electrodes, where pore hierarchy, heteroatom doping, and metal‑oxide hybrids govern adsorption and electrochemical behavior. Collectively, composition, process, property, and application relationships highlight the technical feasibility and sustainability potential of whole‑orange circular utilization across sectors.

Keywords: Orange; Zero-waste; Limonene; Flavanone; Carotenoid; Active carbon; Nano-encapsulation

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-026-04901-7

Chemical Papers 80 (9) 9937–9952 (2026)