Techno-Economic Analysis and Life Cycle Assessment of Pineapple Leaves Utilization in Costa Rica

Pineapple production around the world creates large amounts of wasted organic residue, mainly in form pineapple leaves. Current management practices consist situ decomposition or burning, both which cause proliferation flies and air pollution, respectively. The research conducted aims to develop a utilization process for this residue. Considering that leaves are rich carbohydrates other nutrients, simple biological involving two-step procedure juice ethanol fermentation has been developed convert into renewable fuel spent yeasts animal feed. liquid fraction extracted from is used as nutrients culture yeast, Kluyveromyces marxianus, yeast protein production. In Costa Rica, one major pineapple-producing countries world, studied can produce 92,708 64,859 tons bioethanol per year, respectively, its 44,500 hectares plantation. This techno-economic analysis indicates regional biorefinery with capacity 50,000 metric year could have short payback period 4.72 years. life cycle further demonstrates advantages biorefining concept over current practice open burning.