Food waste-water-energy nexus: Scrutinising sustainability of biodiesel production from sunflower oil consumption wastes in Turkey till 2030

Abstract

Many believe that Turkey is a water rich country but in reality it is a water-stressed country. Yet, majority of fresh water resources in Turkey is being polluted via uncontrolled discharge of sunflower oil consumption wastes into drains. This major problem has long been overlooked by the authorities and public. As a result, this study is intended to show the colossal water pollution potential of this problem and also provide a solution via estimating the feasibility of biodiesel production from sunflower oil consumption wastes till 2030. In this study, semi-empirical models are generated based on fundamental chemical engineering material balance principles and using well respected OECD, FAO and national food waste generation forecasts. Three scenarios are adopted to show low (2.0%), business as usual (4.0%) and high demand growth (6.0%) in sunflower oil consumption per capita per annum. It is estimated that in 2030 Turkey's sunflower oil consumption, associated waste generation and biodiesel production potentials can reach up to 2.610 million tonnes, 275,000 tonnes, and 0.310 million m(3), respectively. More importantly it has been found that Turkey's sunflower oil consumption wastes can pollute up to 7.4 billion m(3) of fresh water in 2030, which is more than water utilisation by all municipalities in Turkey in 2016 (nearly 5.8 billion m(3)). As a result, this study clearly showed that there is a vast potential for water pollution prevention and economic return generation via biodiesel production from sunflower oil consumption wastes in Turkey. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.