ARS develops nutraceuticals, ethanol options for 80,000 tons of waste watermelon

In Oklahoma, the Agricultural Research Service unit in Lane has determined that the 20 percent of the nation’s watermelons that are left on the ground each year represent an incremental 4 Mgy of ethanol, plus the potential for the valuable nutraceutical compounds lycopene and citrulline, thought to promote cardiovascular and other health benefits.

While the primary value is in extraction for nutraceuticals, ethanol production would also reduce sewage treatment costs associated with lycopene and citrulline production.

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