Techno-economic Evaluation of Creole Avocado Biomass Valorization via Oil Production in North-colombia

Abstract

Oil content in avocado has motivated the search for waste recovery alternatives that can improve the sustainability of the processing chain. As a way to take advantage of it, this avocado can be used for the production of value-added products. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the viability under sustainability criteria for large-scale avocado oil production in the north Colombia region, the main pantry of the Criollo-Antillean variety (Laurus Persea L) in the country. This work aims to evaluate the economic viability of the valorization of the ripe Antillean Creole avocado for oil extraction under North-Colombia conditions. The economic evaluation was carried out for a plant production capacity of 10,605 t/y mature avocado and 1,000.67 t/y of avocado oil remove. The raw material used to supply the plant is ripe avocado rejected for human consumption, which lowers the feedstock price. The economic analysis suggests a total capital investment (TCI) of $ 6,433,363 approximately and a net present value of $74.00 with a recovery of the investment after the seventh year since the project started. Besides, profits are greater than expenses since the cost-benefit ratio calculated was considerable larger than one. Results obtained show that equipment cost is critical in total capital investment calculations.