Biofuel potential of fruit juice industry waste

Abstract

The fruit and vegetable markets produce large amounts of waste each year, and the disposal of these wastes is costly, both financially and environmentally. The use of juice industry wastes for biofuel production is very important in terms of potential alternative renewable energy sources (bioethanol, biogas, and biodiesel). In this study, the theoretical biofuel quantities that can be produced from the waste potential generated during the production activities in a food industry (fruit juice) operating in Turkey are calculated. About 127t of bioethanol can be obtained from these wastes. Using wastes as alternative biofuel is beneficial in terms of lawfully reducing sources of wastes and reducing wastewater burden on biological treatment plants.