Circular economy in apple processing industry: Biodiesel production from waste apple seeds

Abstract

Apple pomace is a solid waste derived from the apple processing industry. To foster sustainability, the apple processing industry must implement the circular economy model of biorefinery and treat apple pomace as a valuable source of apple seed oil. The first time, this study dealt with the design, economic, and potential environmental impact assessment of biodiesel production using apple pomace as a source of apple seed oil. An Aspen Plus? and WAR? software were used to evaluate the designed biodiesel production. Supercritical CO2 extraction and methanolysis of apple seed oil, methanol recovery, and biodiesel separation were the main production steps. The production facility was assumed to process 24 tons of apple seeds daily. The total capital and production costs were 1.26 US$ million and 2.82 US$ million, respectively. If revenues from selling apple seed meal as cattle feed were included, a biodiesel price could be 0.39 US$/kg. The process was environmentally friendly when apple seed meal was not treated as waste.

Sustainable valorization of apple waste in a biorefinery: a bibliometric analysis

“…Further, employing apple pomace (14 858 ton year −1 ) as a feedstock for sustainable bio‐succinic acid production, the minimum selling price of succinic acid obtained was US$0.33 kg −1 , which is lower when compared with the existing fossil succinic acid selling price (US$1.6 kg −1 ) 136 . Furthermore, design and economic and potential environmental impact assessment of biodiesel production using apple pomace as a source of apple seed oil were conducted 137 . The total capital investment (US$1.26 × 10 6 ) and production costs (US$2.82 × 10 6 ) were determined for the processing of 24 tons day −1 of apple seeds in the facility.…”

“…The total capital investment (US$1.26 × 10 6 ) and production costs (US$2.82 × 10 6 ) were determined for the processing of 24 tons day −1 of apple seeds in the facility. If revenues from selling apple seed meal as cattle feed were included, the biodiesel price could be US$0.39 kg −1 137 . However, despite the few studies presented above regarding the economic aspects of bio‐products obtained from apple waste, analysis of the environmental impacts caused by these processes are still needed for the implementation of an apple biorefinery 132 …”

“…136 Furthermore, design and economic and potential environmental impact assessment of biodiesel production using apple pomace as a source of apple seed oil were conducted. 137 The total capital investment (US$1.26 × 10 6 ) and production costs (US$2.82 × 10 6 ) were determined for the processing of 24 tons day −1 of apple seeds in the facility. If revenues from selling apple seed meal as cattle feed were included, the biodiesel price could be US$0.39 kg −1 .…”

“…If revenues from selling apple seed meal as cattle feed were included, the biodiesel price could be US$0.39 kg −1 . 137 However, despite the few studies presented above regarding the economic aspects of bio-products obtained from apple waste, analysis of the environmental impacts caused by these processes are still needed for the implementation of an apple biorefinery. 132 The concept of sustainable biorefinery considers it an environmentally friendly process to convert waste into bioproducts, biofuels and value-added products.…”

Comparison of Engine Performance and Emission Values of Biodiesel Obtained from Waste Pumpkin Seeds with Machine Learning

“…Sena and Pereira [3] explored the utilization of melon seed oil for biodiesel production and conducted a study on the phase equilibrium of the biodiesel-methanol-glycerin system. Additionally, Tasić, et al [4] investigated the production of biodiesel from waste apple seeds and emphasized the economic potential for the apple processing industry. Moreover, Shage and Ali [5] demonstrated the potential use of moringa stenopetala seed oil for biodiesel production and achieved quite a high biodiesel yield under optimized process conditions.…”