Determination of Properties of Apple Processing Waste and Investigation of Appropriate Disposal Methods

Turkey is among the top ten countries in terms of apple and apple processing products, fruit production area and production quantities in the world. Most of the apple production in the world are realized in China, the US and Turkey. 76,3% of the apples produced in Turkey are performed in ten provinces. Isparta is ranked the first follwed by Ni？de, Karaman and Antalya. The wastes from pre-screening-cleaning processes in the apple processing industry are composed of leaves, branches, and fruit that are not suitable for processing. Approximately 20% of the apple processing waste is used as an additive to animal feed, and the remaining 80% is disposed of by regular / irregular disposal and burning operations. In this study, the physical and chemical properties of wastes from apples pre-processing were determined and the strategies for disposal of these wastes were aimed to be developed. Solid waste samples used in this study were obtained from Elmata？ G？ller Region Fruit and Vegetable Processing Company operating in Isparta. The obtained samples were analyzed for water content, weight per unit volume (BHA), free air space (FAS), organic matter (OM) content, pH and electrical conductivity (EC) values, C/N ratio, phosphorus, ammonium and nitrate changes and the results obtained were evaluated. Excess water was used before the apple processing process and during the process. The results obtained from pre-screening-cleaning wastes of apple processing industry showed that water content, BHA, FAS, OM, pH, EC, and C/N ratio were 82,5%, 0,78 kg/l, 30,46%, 94,62%, 4,12, 1,05 dS/m, and 30, respectively. Analysis results show that pre-screening-cleaning wastes of apple processing industry have high organic matter and water content, while the pH value is low. It is possible to evaluate these wastes by mixing them in appropriate proportions with other wastes of vegetable and animal origin. Accordingly, composting and anaerobic treatment methods seem to be alternative disposal methods