Produção de biogás a partir de residuos de indústrias de frutas

Abstract

Growing awareness of the environmental impacts of burning fossil fuels and concern about the source’s depletion drive research into sustainable alternatives. The focus has been redirected towards second-generation (2G) biofuels, such as bioethanol, biodiesel and biogas, as these are promising and ecologically sustainable processes that contribute to effective waste management and clean energy generation. Specifically biogas production, is an innovative method as it involves converting by-products from the fruit industry, such as peels, pomace and seeds through anaerobic digestion, where microorganisms break down organic matter in an oxygen-free environment. The primary raw materials to be used are available in abundance in the fruit processing industries and are often disposed of inappropriately, so when we convert this waste into biogas, which is mainly composed of methane and carbon dioxide, we make it possible to generate renewable energy and reduce negative environmental impacts. This study evaluated orange, mango, and banana waste for its biochemical methane potential (BMP) over 33 days. Orange waste had the highest productivity, approximately 103,30 NmL/gSV of biogas, and the best quality biogas was obtained from mango waste, with 77.9% methane. These results demonstrate an essential potential for using these residues to produce biogas and biomethane, adding value to the fruit production chain.