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Development of a Sustainable Natural Brown Colorant from Date Seed Waste: Taguchi Optimization and Storage Stability
Wardah S Hasan1, Javeria Mohsin2, Wafa Z Jafri3
1Mathematics and Sciences Department, Rochester Institute of Technology, Dubai 341055, United Arab Emirates.
Foods (Basel, Switzerland)
|August 13, 2026
Summary
This study developed a natural brown food colorant from date seed waste, optimizing processing for maximum color intensity. The sustainable colorant offers antioxidant and nutritional benefits, serving as a clean-label alternative to synthetic dyes.
Area of Science:
- Food Science
- Sustainable Chemistry
- Agro-industrial By-product Valorization
Background:
- Growing demand for natural food colorants necessitates sustainable alternatives.
- Agro-industrial by-products represent a valuable, underutilized resource.
- Date seed waste is a potential source for natural colorant development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and characterize a food-grade natural brown colorant from date seed waste (Phoenix dactylifera L., Khalas variety).
- To optimize processing parameters for maximum color development and stability.
- To evaluate the nutritional and antioxidant properties of the developed colorant.
Main Methods:
- Taguchi L9 orthogonal array design for process optimization (roasting temperature, time, extraction time).
- Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy for pigment characterization.
- High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for phenolic compound analysis.
- Mineral profiling and storage stability tests.
Main Results:
- Optimal conditions (200 °C roasting, 5 min roasting, 15 min extraction) yielded high color intensity (OD420 = 0.927).
- Roasting temperature was the most significant factor (85.75% variation).
- Refrigerated storage in amber containers preserved phenolic content, antioxidant activity, and color.
- Date seed colorant is rich in potassium, calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium.
Conclusions:
- A sustainable, food-grade brown colorant was successfully developed from date seed waste.
- The colorant possesses desirable color-forming, antioxidant, and nutritional properties.
- This valorization aligns with sustainable development goals and offers a clean-label alternative to synthetic colorants.
