The research aims to anticipate demand for energy and materials future

A pilot plant developed by the University of Valladolid is able to obtain energy and polymers (plastics) the pulp from waste from the food industry. This research project is currently in a position to go one step further, creating a demonstration plant, although its proponents have not found even financing. The Chair Tomás Pascual Sanz-Universidad of Burgos recently presented this project at a Conference on utilization of waste production in the food industry in which various experts showed their latest advances in this area.

María Fernández, Professor of technology of the environment of the University of Valladolid, explains that the project consists in the development of a process of despolimerización of cellulose, from the waste that is generated in the food industry. Supercritical water (that is, in a situation of change of physical state to gas), the scientists get that cellulose is soluble. "Dissolving the cellulose in less than a second, we can get other chemicals of interest". Cellulose, a substance present in vegetables, becomes, in this way, a source of other materials.

The technicians from the University of Valladolid have developed a pilot plant that obtain a yield of 1.5 kilograms per hour. The work is developed by researchers at the Department of chemical engineering. Scientists are currently seeking financing and partners to continue with the project.

Cellulose, a substance present in vegetables, becomes a source of other materials.

The research aims to anticipate demand for energy and materials future. From this waste from the food industry, there is both energy and chemical compounds. "For now, is not profitable the collection of this material in this way, the oil is still an economic alternative, but will come a time that is more expensive or have less availability". Then, the obtaining of polymers and the provision of a new source of energy will be a necessity. Scientific development is the reuse of waste from the food industry processes more profitable, cheaper these processes of conversion of cellulose in plastics.

Maite Zazpe, the Department of biomass of the National Center of renewable energies, introduced in Burgos which this public organization of research done on the recovery of non usable material in canned fruits and vegetables. In particular, the scientific work seeks bioethanol from remains of carrots, peppers, kiwis or oranges, vegetables, and cultivated fruits that can generate no unusable residues for the industry. "It is a set of four projects with a development of around eight years which has come to transfer technology and results to the business world", explains Zazpe.

From the hydrolysis of the sugar of the fruit and vegetables, the technicians have obtained bioethanol. The work was carried out in a two-litre reactor, and now Research Center provides pass on a larger scale, the pilot plant. The project has funding from Interreg and integrates in the case of Spain companies and research centres in the Basque country and Navarra. There are also partners in Portugal and France. The National Center of renewable energy lies in Sarriguren (Navarra). The province and autonomous community is a major producer of canned goods and other food products of the orchard.

From the hydrolysis of the sugar of fruits and vegetables, the technicians have obtained bioethanol.

According to the University of Burgos, environmental factors are most important in the management of the food business and in the future will be among those to determine its sustainability and competitiveness. The food industry generates large amounts of waste in production of organic nature, which mainly consist of those parts of the raw materials are not useful in the process of development and which can represent up to 85% of the initially received weight. These materials can be discarded as waste, with the consequent cost, or may be revalued as by-products with the consequent environmental and economic benefit. A new use opens new business prospects and is environmentally more sustainable.