2. Orange fruit

After the processing of these products, agroindustrial waste is obtained. Agroindustrial waste is solid or liquid materials generated from the direct consumption of primary products or its industrialization. Those residues are no longer useful for the process that generated them, but they are susceptible to transformation to obtain another product with economic

value, of commercial and social interest [1].

202 Wastewater and Water Quality

Figure 1. Alternatives for organic residue waste management.

In the orange Mexican harvest, the volume of production has averaged 4.3 million tons in the last 6 years. The national market is the main trade of Mexican orange; an average of 67.53% of the supply of fresh oranges is destined for national production; most of them are designated to homes, restaurants, street vendors, and hotel chains, among others [3, 4].

Since orange has a high production in the country, as well as in the world, and serves as the main raw material for agroindustrial processing, the amount of fruit marketed to the juicing industry has increased [3].

The orange processing industry accommodates a small percentage of 32% in the last years [4]. Since 2004, the percentage of fruit destined to the juice agroindustry increased significantly due to government programs which allowed the recovery of the freight and collection costs of the fruit marketed to the Mexican agroindustry of oranges (Table 1). Simple juice and concentrated juice are the main products in the processing of citrus fruits [3].


Table 1. Main producing countries of orange juice, considering 1000 metric tons at 65 BRIX.

The oranges processed in the industry are destined in its majority to the juice export market (Table 2). Studies show that Mexico, in comparison with large producing countries, has been increasing the amount of juice produced over the years. Mexico has had a great inclusion in the international market, satisfying the demand of countries such as the United States, Canada, and Japan, among others [3, 4].


Table 2. Export data of orange juice, considering 1000 metric tons at 65 BRIX.
