Review Article

Potential Use of Industrial Cocoa Waste in Biofuel Production

Table 3

Biofuels generated from cocoa industrial wastes.

ProductBiomassProcessResultsReference

BiocharCPHLow-temperature pyrolysis with residence times of 30–120 minutes in 30-minute intervals.Biochar with a calorific value of 17.8 MJ/kg with high potassium content. The resulting biofuel has characteristics similar to lignite.[40]
BiocharCPHPyrolysis at temperatures of 250, 300, and 350°C. Activation process with HCl to reduce the values of free fatty acids to use cooking oil used in the production of biodiesel.The activated carbon generated from CPH showed better retention of free fatty acids than the esterification treatment with H2SO4.[84]
BioethanolCPHFermentation using Zymomonas mobilis in a period of 0–8 days. The percentages of microorganisms added were 8–16% v/v.An alcohol graduation of 10.62% was obtained under 8 day conditions with a concentration of 14% v/v.[85]
BioethanolCMFermentation using Pichia kudriavzevii for 5 days at a temperature of 30°C.The result shows that the maximum ethanol concentration was 13.8 g/L.[86]
BioethanolCMSaccharomyces cerevisiae was used for fermentation for 12 days.The bioethanol production was 4.85%; it is reported as a low concentration for the amount of mucilage.[87]
BioethanolCBSFermentation with variation in the amount of yeasts during 6 days of the process; hydrolysis pretreatment with H2SO4 at temperatures of 30–80°C in periods of 50–150 minutes.8.46% bioethanol was produced under pH 8 conditions, with a yeast concentration for fermentation of 0.05 mg/g in 6 days of the process. pH was determined to be the main influencing factor.[88]
BiogasCPHFermentation process with the application of four pretreatments, acid (H2SO4), alkaline (H2O2), ground without treatment, and the last one not ground without treatment.The biogas yields by pretreatment were acid 162.8, alkaline 564.8, ground without treatment 220.8, and unground without treatment 243.3; the highest production was obtained on day 18 of the process.[89]
BiogasCPHThe aerobic digestion process together with a hydrothermal pretreatment was used at different temperatures (150–220°C) in times of 5–15 minutes.The untreated CPH biogas production was estimated at 357l (N)/kgVS, while the biogas production from pretreated biomass was 526.38L(N)/kgVS at 150°C for 15 minutes.[90]
BiogasCMFermentation process for 25 days with a pretreatment of a NaOH and NaOH-H2O2 solution.The biogas produced was obtained in a concentration of 66.07% with a yield of 0.734 m3 CH4/kgVS.[45]
BiohydrogenCMFermentation process at two temperatures 35°C and 55°C; the organic load of volatile compounds 4, 8, and 12 gVS/L was determined.The amount of gas produced daily was measured. The reaction was faster at 55 °C, the generation of the product was from the fifth day. The load was determined in 12 gVS/L and the hydrogen production of 703 mL.[91]
BiohydrogenCMFermentation of the biomass in a load of 10 gVS/L at a temperature of 35 °C at a pH of 5.5 in a period of time of 12 days.The amount of biohydrogen produced was 3674.021 mL, which is equivalent to 91.85 mL H2/gVS.[92]
Pig manure
Coffee mucilage
BiomethaneCBSFermentation for the production of biomethane from lignocellulosic material with a pretreatment with N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide at a temperature of 120°C for 3 hours.The effect of the pretreatment was compared against an untreated control sample, in which the biomethane production increased from 199 to 226 ml of CH4/gVS. This effect was more relevant for rice straw with an 82% increase.[93]
Rice straw
Hazelnut skin

Bio-oilCPHPyrolysis at different temperatures from 300°C–600°C in 100°C stepsBio-oil with a calorific value of 36.23 MJ/kg with characteristics similar to diesel. Biogas with a calorific value of 35.24 MJ/kg presented high values of CO2, CO, CH4, H2S, and H2O.[94]
Biogas
Liquid smokeCBSPyrolysis with temperatures of 450, 500, and 550°C with an increase of 5–15°C/minute.The concentration of liquid smoke obtained was 18–23%. The higher speed of heating produced a greater quantity of coal, ash, and water; the calorific power of the product was 22.97 MJ/kg.[95]
Biochar

CPH = cocoa pod husk; MJ/kg = megajoule/kilogram; H2SO4 = sulfuric acid; HCl = hydrochloric acid; v/v = volume/volume; H2O2 = hydrogen peroxide; VS = volatile solids; CO2 = carbon dioxide; CO = carbon monoxide; CH4 = methane; H2S = hydrogen sulfide; H2O = water; CM = cocoa mucilage; NaOH = sodium hydroxide; L = liter; g = gram; mL = milliliter; pH = potential of hydrogen; mg = milligram; CBS = cocoa bean shell.