ARS | Publication request: Citrus waste stream utilization

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: February 25, 2010
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: Waste streams, generated during fruit processing, consist of solid fruit residues in addition to liquid waste streams from washing operations which must be handled in an environmentally acceptable manner. Unsound fruit from packing houses are usually sent off to be processed for juice and the solid residue left after juice processing, comprised of leaves, peel, segment and juice sac membranes and seeds, makes up approximately half of an intact citrus fruit. These materials, generated in quantities too great to be put in a landfill, are currently dried to produce a low value cattle feed at a cost greater then the cattle feed value. Waste water steams are also generated during washing of fruit and equipment cleanup. Alternatives to cattle feed production will be discussed along with water reclamation and recycling.