Energy recovery of residues from the Brazilian citrus sector

• Grant number: 22/02654-7
• Support Opportunities: Program for Research on Bioenergy (BIOEN) - Regular Program Grants
• Start date: June 01, 2023
• End date: May 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Interdisciplinary Subjects
• Agreement: Secretaria de Meio Ambiente, Infraestrutura e Logística - Fundação Florestal
• Principal Investigator: Ana Maria Pereira Neto
• Grantee: Ana Maria Pereira Neto
• Host Institution: Centro de Engenharia, Modelagem e Ciências Sociais Aplicadas (CECS). Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC). Ministério da Educação (Brasil). Santo André , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Antonio Garrido Gallego ; Joao Duarte Navalho Santos ; Lais Galileu Speranza ; Rafael Augusto Sotana de Souza ; Reynaldo Palacios Bereche ; Rodolfo Sbrolini Tiburcio
• Associated scholarship(s): 23/17587-6 - Technical training in computer simulation and environmental and life cycle analyzes of waste recovery, BP.TT; 23/09908-7 - Physical-chemical and thermophysical characterization of orange bagasse and sugarcane blends aiming at their energetic use in thermal systems, BP.PD

Abstract

The State of São Paulo is the world's largest producer of oranges, accounting for about 25% of global production (and 75% of Brazilian production) and its industrial processing generates significant amounts of waste such as orange bagasse, which represents approximately 50% of the total fruit mass, and viable alternatives to its destination should be promoted. Agro-industrial waste is abundant and constitutes a promising source for its use in energy conversion routes, in addition to reducing costs and minimizing socio-environmental impacts linked to its inadequate disposal. Obtaining indicators on the technical, economic, environmental, social, and legal feasibility is of paramount importance and these can be used to provide parameters that allow an evaluation of the bioenergetic use of orange bagasse. Therefore, the use of residual biomass as an energy source is an opportunity to diversify fuels used in the industrial sector. This work proposes the valuation of residues from the citrus sector from the characterization and the execution of energetic, exergetic, technical-economic, environmental, and life cycle analyzes of the use of orange bagasse blends with sugarcane bagasse in thermal systems. Based on the critical analysis of the data obtained in the project, it will be possible to develop/improve solid waste management plans for the citrus sector, in addition to providing compliance with the growing socio-environmental and legal requirements of the Brazilian and international market. Aiming to improve the sustainability of the orange production chain, it is also intended to prospect biorefinery configurations from the products resulting from this proposal. The objective is to stimulate the energy recovery of strategic products so that the citrus sector can move towards new levels of competitiveness, in addition to meeting the UN's sustainable development goals, promoting ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) actions, stimulating the low carbon energy transition, and circular and green economy. (AU)