MAKHACHKALA, April 16 – RIA Dagestan. During Science Week, students from Dagestan State Technical University unveiled a project within the field of environmental biotechnology and sustainable industrial processing aimed at transforming winemaking into a virtually waste-free industry.
Winemaking traditionally results in substantial waste byproducts, including grape stems, pomace (skins and pulp) and seeds, which have typically been either composted or disposed of in landfills. The proposed innovation employs a systematic, multi-stage raw material separation strategy achieving up to 98% material utilization.
Specifically, grape stems undergo processing to produce must for bioethanol synthesis; pomace is subjected to hot water extraction to isolate organic acids; seeds are mechanically pressed to extract oil rich in beneficial polyunsaturated fatty acids; and the residual matter—comprising press cake, defatted skins, and stems—is combined, milled, and pelletized using lignin as a natural binder. This binder enhances particle cohesion, while the reintegration of dust into the production cycle further reduces material losses by 15%.
Consequently, this methodology significantly minimizes technological waste from 20.5% to 5%, yielding valuable outputs such as grape seed oil, extracted bioactive compounds, and biofuel pellets. The comprehensive valorization approach is projected to close the grape processing loop, enhance economic viability, mitigate environmental impact in the region, and diversify the product portfolio.
The project is undergoing patent application procedures and is being readied for submission to the 2026 Student Startup competition.