The Modeling and Simulation of Waste Recovery Processes Applied to the Orange Juice Industry

Lorrayne Lins Suzuki, Isadora Luiza Clímaco Cunha (), Cláudia Echevenguá Teixeira, Luiz Kulay and Moisés Teles dos Santos
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Lorrayne Lins Suzuki: Chemical Engineering Department, Polytechnic School, University of São Paulo (USP), Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 580-Bloco 18, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
Isadora Luiza Clímaco Cunha: Chemical Engineering Department, Polytechnic School, University of São Paulo (USP), Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 580-Bloco 18, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
Cláudia Echevenguá Teixeira: Sustainability and Low Carbon Center, Institute of Technological Research of São Paulo (IPT), Av. Prof. Almeida Prado, 532, São Paulo 05508-901, Brazil
Luiz Kulay: Chemical Engineering Department, Polytechnic School, University of São Paulo (USP), Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 580-Bloco 18, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
Moisés Teles dos Santos: Chemical Engineering Department, Polytechnic School, University of São Paulo (USP), Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 580-Bloco 18, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 21, 1-19

Abstract: Orange-juice production represents a significant, world-leading economic sector in Brazil. Orange processing residues, however, correspond to 50% to 60% of the in natura fruit mass. Despite the high amount of generated waste, which is disposed of in landfills or used as raw material to produce low-value animal feed, studies on the use of this waste are still developing in Brazil. However, orange peels contain compounds that can be precursors to higher value-added products in different sectors. Therefore, this study presents a conceptual proposal for a biorefinery integrated into the orange-juice-production route to assess integrated processes’ technical, environmental, and economic performance to convert waste into chemicals, fuels, and energy. A stationary process simulation model was developed to analyze the manufacturing of four products, namely, D-limonene, pectin, biomethane, and electricity, comparing the results to the conventional feed production route according to generated revenue and environmental impacts. The results indicate that pectin production is the highest financial-return route, presenting the most significant environmental impact, whereas D-limonene production is more attractive, generating the second-highest revenue with the lowest associated environmental impacts.

Keywords: orange residue; biorefineries; Aspen Plus; environmental impacts; economic evaluation; waste valuation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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