From Soybean Hulls to Value-Added Materials: Cellulose, Derivatives, and Applications in the Circular Economy Framework

Soybean hulls (SBHs), one of the major by-products of soybean processing, are commonly used as animal feed or discarded as low-value biomass. Nevertheless, they represent a promising renewable resource for the development of high-value-added products within a circular economy framework. Over the past years, our research has focused on the sustainable valorization of SBHs through the optimization of extraction processes for soybean peroxidase and cellulose [1,2], as well as the development of cellulose-based derivatives [1,3,4] and functional materials [1,2]. These materials have been designed for applications in environmental remediation, antimicrobial treatments, and active packaging systems. Particular attention has been devoted to sustainability throughout the entire material life cycle, including green extraction and functionalization strategies, material reusability, biodegradability, and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) studies. This contribution provides an overview of the approaches developed to transform soybean hulls from an agricultural residue into a versatile platform for sustainable and functional bio-based materials.