| Summary: | After liquor extraction from the processed tea leaves, underutilized waste named spent tea leaves (STL) are produced. Essential amino acids, omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, theobromine and caffeine, polyphenols, and minerals, including Mg, Mn, Ca, P, and K are all abundant in STL and may be used to produce a variety of industrially significant products. The bioconversion of STL to a useable form is now accomplished by the use of fermentation, anaerobic digestion, silage preparation, vermicomposting, and other low-cost techniques. After a sufficient bioconversion, structural, morphological, and chemical modifications allow STL to be used in the creation of biopolymers, biofuels, catechin derivatives, charcoal, absorbents for dye, and the elimination of heavy metals. © 2025 Elsevier Inc. All rights are reserved including those for text and data mining AI training and similar technologies.
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