How to reuse citrus peels? In Sicily, energy is produced from the waste of oranges and other citrus fruits. The idea is to be able to obtain clean energy precisely from the waste parts of citrus fruit processing that would otherwise be thrown away.
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How to reuse bucce degli fieldi? In Sicilia and produces energia from the waste of oranges and other citrus fruits from industrial processing. The idea is to be able to obtain clean energy precisely from the waste parts of citrus fruit processing that would otherwise be thrown away.
The University of Catania and the Citrus District of Sicily have carried out a pilot project to exploit citrus waste - such as peel, seeds and residual pulp - to obtain biomass from which to derive electricity.
With this system at the moment you can obtain the energy power needed to power 333 homes. Getting energy from biomass is smart when using waste parts. It is not when the crops for the production of biomass and biofuels take away precious land for agriculture and food production.
The first plant of the pilot project active in Sicily was inaugurated in Catania. It not only uses citrus waste but also other by-products of the agri-food chains, such as olive pomace, pomace and prickly pear shovels. In this way, clean energy is produced avoiding the accumulation of waste represented by food waste of industrial origin.
The experts who are working on the project hope to extend it to all of Sicily. They would be useful other 20 plants, called digesters, to solve the problem of agri-food waste in the region and at the same time to produce clean energy from them. One more way to break away from dependence on highly polluting fossil fuels such as carbon.
The residue from the industrial production of citrus juice is called pastazzo. It represents 60% of the waste treated in this pilot project. The anaerobic digestion process is used to produce energy from this type of waste.
In addition to electricity, waste is obtained from it biomethane and nutrients for the soils. The advantage it is not only environmental but also economic. 340 tons of pastazzo are produced every year. It costs a lot to dispose of them as waste 10 million euro. This alternative use is therefore welcome, which helps reduce the accumulation of waste and focuses on clean energy.
Marta Albè
Read also:
4 ways to transform food waste into raw materials
How to make candles from oranges in minutes
25 alternative uses for fruit and vegetable peels
