d-Limonene: How Brazilian Citrus Growers are Monetizing Residues

For Brazil’s small and mid-sized citrus processors, peel and other residues have traditionally been thrown away or used as cattle feed, but JBT is now offering a highly effective, potentially lucrative means of monetizing these leftovers, with options available for producers large and small. Derived from cold-pressed citrus peel, essential oil d-Limonene is in high demand across a wide range of industries, from cosmetics to flavorings, adhesive removers and industrial cleaners.

With the recovery of d-Limonene prices over the last two years, the essential oil has become an increasingly attractive option for citrus processors worldwide who are benefiting from a new source of revenue in a congested citrus juice market.

JBT’s READYGo d-LIMONENE Recovery System is capable of recovery efficiencies of 92-95% or higher from the feed stream, and 63%-70% of total plant recovery from the fruit. In other words, the system offers a cost-effective method of recovering potential earnings that would otherwise go down the drain.

To further make the solution accessible for smaller processors, JBT has introduced the READYGo d-LIMONENE 33, which can process up to 33 GPM (7,5 m³/hr) of oil-bearing emulsion, complementing the existing READYGo d-LIMONENE 100 GPM. The solution is proving especially beneficial for producers who already have two or more JBT in-line extractors.

Revenue stream “The recovery of the d-Limonene oil price has created a good environment for the READYGo d-LIMONENE small capacity system, and we now have five customers who have recently bought the 33 GPM version,” explains Januário Soligon, JBT’s Director of Sales-Lease & Service for South America. “These were existing JBT customers on the juice extraction side who were not recovering the d-Limonene oil. They were effectively losing it and throwing it away or selling it with other residues as cattle feed, so we are helping customers get more out of the same citrus volumes.

“There has been a price recovery for d-Limonene due to higher worldwide demand, so we have successfully approached small-medium customers to help them have this solution implemented with the new small-size READYGo d-LIMONENE unit that has been specifically designed for their requirements.”

The READYGo d-LIMONENE 33, which is being made available to customers across the region, also has important sustainability benefits as it helps customers reduce their COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand) levels and avoid potential contamination problems caused by citrus waste by turning it into an income stream.

LEARN MORE about the JBT READYGo d-LIMONENE Recovery System