Scholarly record

ASSESSMENT OF WASTE AND WASTEWATER TREATMENT FROM FRUITS AND VEGETABLES PROCESSING INDUSTRY IN ROMANIA

Cristina Damian

Abstract

The solid waste generated in food industry was considered as a low cost raw material for the extraction of natural antioxidants. Unfortunately, some of these wastes are not dealt with properly and are causing considerable damage to the environment. Agricultural wastes in Romania amount range from 7600 thousand tons a year of which only 1400 thousand tons as animal feed and 1100 thousand tons as organic manure are being utilized. These crop waste results after harvesting in the farm of leaves stem which are characterized as coarse plant by-products and big size, chemically low in protein and fat contents, or, like other country avoid waste as much as possible, recover the valuable raw materials from any waste that is created, try to generate energy by incinerating the residual waste, and only then dump what is left. Vegetables and fruit are considered a rich source of antioxidants (vitamins, flavonoids, carotenoids), which are frequently added to stop the process of oxidation in processed food systems. The present study is focused on the investigation of the waste and wastewater treatment practices taking place in the Romanian sector of processing and preserving fruit and vegetables through a detailed examination of industrial units related to this specific industrial sector.

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