Author
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Widmer, Wilbur |
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Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 2/25/2010 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Greater than 80 percent of citrus produced in Florida is processed for juice production. The bulk of this waste material is dried as citrus pulp and sold as a cattle feed by-product, often at a price lower than the cost of production. While not profitable, this does solve the problem of waste disposal. Two research projects at the USDA Citrus and Subtropical Products Laboratory in Winter Haven, FL focus on developing high value by-products from citrus processing waste. In partnership under a CRADA agreement with Renewable Spirits, LLC, a system has been developed to produce ethanol, recover limonene, and convert leftover residues to cattle feed. The treatment process developed results in a substantial reduction in the amount of enzyme required. This reduction in enzymes along with limonene recovery reduces costs to where the process is marginal economically and shows promise as improvements are made to enzyme formulations and alternative co-products other than cattle feed from the non-fermentable residues are developed. From this, a patent application has been filed and granted jointly to the USDA and Renewable Spirits, LLC while two others have been filed and are still pending approval for the developed process. |
