Although juice is the main product of oranges, many commercial value by-products are obtained during its processing phases, such as essential oils, d'limonene, terpenes, aromatic liquids and citrus pulp pellets (CPP).

They have different applications in the domestic and international markets, and include the production of chemical products and solvents, flavors and fragrances, substances for the paint industry, cosmetics, and animal feed supplements.

For more information on orange by-products, and their export data, please refer to the links below:

Essential oils are volatile oils removed from citrus fruit peel.

During the juice extraction process, oil sacs break, releasing the product that is then removed with a spray of water. The product is recovered by centrifugation and then cooled.

These oils are used more frequently in the food and pharmaceutical industries. They provide flavor to drinks, ice creams and other foods, in addition to being used in preparing pharmaceuticals, toilet soaps, perfumes and other cosmetics, and home care products.

D'limonene is a colorless liquid, with a slight citric odor, obtained during juice extraction from the concentration of the lime treated citrus peel liquor.

The oil in the liquor is removed during evaporation and condensed separately. D'limonene is an oily fraction and is considered one of the purest sources of monocyclic terpene.

There are several applications for this product, among which industrial solvents, flavor and aromatic component and as raw material for the synthesis of other chemical compounds.

Once the juice has been extracted from oranges, peels and rags is left behind. They are equivalent to approximately 50% of the processed fruit's weight and will be converted into citrus pulp pellets to be used in cattle feed.

In the production process, calcium oxide is added to the peels and rags which are then crushed into small parts which range from 0,2 cm to 0,6 cm. These small parts go through a reactor for approximately 12 minutes where the mixing of the calcium oxide to the wet peel takes place generating the liberation of water. The wet peel enters the industrialization process at humidity of approximately 82% which is reduced to 72% after the pressing. As a result, a liquor is released from the peel which is then concentrated in the evaporator.

The wet peel then undergoes a drying process in rotating cylindrical dryers where hot gas is generated from the combustion of sugar cane bagasse or fuel oil. This gas enters the dryers at a temperature of approximately 800ºC exchanging heat with the bits of peel which will leave the dryers at a temperature of approximately 140ºC and a 10% to 12% humidity so that they may finally be pelletized. During this process humidity levels in the actual pellets are reduced to as low as 8% thus increasing the microbiological stability of the product and reducing fire hazards.

Citrus pulp pellets are used as a filler in beef or milk cattle feed . Its use should not exceed 30% of dry matter for each adult cow. As citrus pulp pellets absorb humidity it is vital that this feedstuff is kept in dry and ventilated storage facilities for no more than 60 days in order to avoid fermentation or mold.