Seeking ways to utilise orange by-products

In orange juice production only about half of every orange is turned into juice. The remainder is considered waste or used for animal feeds. In Brazil, which is the largest producer of oranges, chemical engineers are trying to study how else to utilise the by-products for human consumption.

Some 70 million tonnes of oranges are grown worldwide each year¹. During the production of orange juice it is estimated that up to 20 million tonnes of waste is produced mainly from the peel, pulp, seeds, orange leaves and fruits that do not meet quality standards. Most orange waste is turned into pellets for animal feed, spread onto soil near production units or simply burned.

At the Federal University of Santa Catarina in Brazil, a study² by the Department of Chemical and Food Engineering, has reviewed the economic, nutritional and environmental potential of orange waste, which is known to contain soluble sugars, cellulose, pectin and other essential oils that could form the basis for several industrial processes.

The study proposed a range of uses of orange waste including in the manufacture of paper; the absorption of pollutants; as a fertilizer; a potential new fuel source, including bio-fuels and charcoal; and as a food ingredient with antioxidant properties.

The Institution of Chemical Engineers’ (IChemE) chief executive David Brown said: “Reducing food waste and improving food supply is a growing concern across the world as population grows and resources come under increasing pressure.

“It’s an issue where chemical engineers can make a unique contribution including the development of processes and technologies to optimise food supply. Turning orange waste into a raw material for new products is a challenge worth embracing, and a field worthy of further research and investment.”

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