References

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added to water, forms zein nanoparticles dispersed in water. Zein nanoparticles find

their applications in nanocomposites for packaging materials, functional or bioac-

tive compound encapsulation, drug delivery, etc. [38].

Besides above-mentioned nanomaterials, other nanomaterials can also be syn-

thesized from food and agricultural waste. Ngu et al. (2016) synthesized carbon

nanoparticles from waste rice husk, where bottom-up approach was used, by

carbonization of rice husk using sulfuric acid. Developed carbon nanoparticles

were used for sensing applications. In another study, food wastes were used for the

synthesis of carbon nanodots [39, 40].

23.4

Conclusion

Food and agricultural wastes are generated across the world need to be utilized

for valuable products manufacturing by their transformation either physically,

chemically, or biologically. Re-utilization of these wastes has several advantages,

including a renewable source of biomolecules and bioactive compounds. The

beneficial potential of developed products needs to be evaluated by assessing

the effects on the economy and changes caused in consumer’s life. Utilization of

agricultural and food wastes would be helpful to prevent environmental pollution

caused by the degradation of the wastes. Various methods of biogenic synthesis of

nanomaterials using agricultural and food waste would find wide applications in

biomedical, environmental, electronics, energy storage and nutrition sectors. Food

and agricultural biowastes are available worldwide and inexpensive, and they are

under-exploited source, which could be utilized for the synthesis of nanomaterials.

As this particular domain of nanotechnology is considered to be in its early stage,

more investigations need to be carried out to assess the safety of the final deliverable

products for final acceptability and approval.

Acknowledgments

Authors are grateful to Sri Sharada Peetham, Sringeri (India) and Jyothy Charitable

Trust, Bengaluru (India), for their support and facilities.

References

1 Millati, R., Cahyono, R.B., Ariyanto, T. et al. (2019). Agricultural, industrial,

municipal, and forest wastes: an overview, Chapter 1. In: Sustainable Resource

Recovery and Zero Waste Approaches (eds. M.J. Taherzadeh, K. Bolton, J. Wong

and A. Pandey), 1–22. Elsevier.

2 Sabiiti, E.N. (2011). Utilising agricultural waste to enhance food security and

conserve the environment. African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and

Development 11 (6): 1–9.