Densified mango residues as biofuel from low-resource agricultural processing

Producing biofuels, bio-power, or other bio-products depends on supply systems that can ensure high-volume, reliable, environmentally sustainable, and on-spec availability of source feedstocks. Implementing these recycling and repurposing systems can lead to more ecologically and financially sustainable supply chains and business, but this endeavor is particularly complicated for small businesses in underdeveloped areas. This article examines the role of biomass and biofuel in the potential scalability of small businesses in underserved regions. It includes a discussion of potential benefits and applications, with emphasis on densified biowaste and Organic Rankine Cycle turbo-generators. The article's case study occurs in Sierra Leone, which has an abundance of potential biomass resources-specifically mango-but where local facilities that do not widely utilize biowaste. This case study assessed the waste stream of a local Sierra Leonean fruit processing facility as a potential densified biofuel feedstock source. Using only low-resource and low-capital materials, freshly processed refuse was sampled and densified for industry-standard fuel properties. The results of this study indicate that the low-resource formulation of mixed feedstocks from niche high-production crops can still meet industry standards as an Organic Rankine Cycle biomass heat source for electrical energy production.