Mango stone properties as biofuel and its potential for reducing CO2 emissions

Mango (Mangifera indica L) is one of the most widely cultivated fruits in the tropics as well as other coastal subtropical climate areas, existing around 160 varieties of mangoes in the world, grown in more than 90 countries. Its consumption has greatly increased worldwide over the last decades. The world production of these fruits has been rising in recent years, with a production of more than 46 million tons in 2016, 23% above the production in 2009. India is the largest producer in the world by a very wide margin- more than 28% of the total produced worldwide in 2016. Next, China, Thailand and Indonesia produced 3.61, 2.25 and 1.83 million tons in that same year, respectively. Potential high energy content of the residual biomass produced in the mango sector is barely known. Mango stone weight accounts for 30 45% of the total fruit weight which completely goes off as waste. Hence, the aim of this work is to outline mango stone energy qualities and to assess these parameters to establish its suitability as a solid biofuel for thermal energy production. With a view to achieving this goal, the following analysed parameters were considered: moisture (59.70%), higher heating value (18.05 Mlikg), lower heating value (1727 MI/kg), elemental composition (48.26% C, 44.92% 0, 3.48% H, 1.041% N, 0.086% S, 0.070% CL), ash content (2.14%), or oil content (3%). These results were compared to other biomass sources, such as olive pit and avocado stone, as well as almond shell, obtaining intermediate but similar readings. Finally, the most accurate model to estimate higher heating value of mango stone has been determined, considering the predictive models of HHV for the biomass submitted by other scientific research studies. As main conclusions, the findings of this work pave the way for using mango stone as biofuel in domestic or industrial heating facilities. On the other hand, this biofuel has proven to be useful in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in producing countries. In relative terms, it has proved to be particularly significant in a large part of Central Africa (Sudan, Nigeria, Tanzania, Kenya or Congo) and Madagascar, being able to reduce above 0.02%o of their CO2 emissions. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.