Abstract |
The disposal of cull fruit coming from packing sheds is a large but seasonal solid waste management problem in the Central Valley. Present disposal practices include landfilling, land spreading, and use as animal feed. Typically, these methods represent an economic liability to the packers in addition to being a waste of potential resources. Cull fruit contains significant amounts of sugar which can be converted into ethanol using current technology. The ethanol has several uses, one of which is a fuel to provide on-site energy for plant processing needs. This report was intended to evaluate the potential for ethanol production from cull fruit at United Packing's Sanger plant. However, ethanol production is only one part in an overall energy management plan for the plant. Cogeneration and other power production options utilizing ethanol, to provide both total and partial energy independence from utilities are also examined. Information from the alcohol production evaluation, energy survey, biomass profile, and power production analysis is integrated in the final chapter, and an overall energy management plan is defined. |