Thermochemical Conversion of Olive Oil Industry Waste: Circular Economy through Energy Recovery

• Published in: Recycling (Basel) Vol. 5; no. 2; pp. 12 - 0
• Main Authors: Nunes, Leonel J. R., Loureiro, Liliana M. E. F., Sá, Letícia C. R., Silva, Hugo F.C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 01-06-2020
• Subjects: biomass waste; circular economy; energy recovery; olive pomace; thermochemical conversion
• ISSN: 2313-4321; 2313-4321
• DOI: 10.3390/recycling5020012

The demand for new sources of energy is one of the main quests for humans. At the same time, there is a growing need to eliminate or recover a set of industrial or agroforestry waste sources. In this context, several options may be of interest, especially given the amounts produced and environmental impacts caused. Olive pomace can be considered one of these options. Portugal, as one of the most prominent producers of olive oil, therefore, also faces the problem of dealing with the waste of the olive oil industry. Olive pomace energy recovery is a subject referenced in many different studies and reports since long ago. However, traditional forms of recovery, such as direct combustion, did not prove to be the best solution, mainly due to its fuel properties and other characteristics, which cause difficulties in its storage and transportation as well. Torrefaction and pyrolysis can contribute to a volume reduction, optimizing storage and transportation. In this preliminary study, were carried out torrefaction and pyrolysis tests on olive pomace samples, processed at 300 °C, 400 °C, and 500 °C, followed by laboratory characterization of the materials. It was verified an improvement in the energy content of the materials, demonstrating that there is potential for the use of these thermochemical conversion technologies for the energy recovery of olive pomace.