The secondary production sector can provide biomass in the form of waste from
the processing of sugarcane, shrimp, coffee, and cocoa. Sugarcane bagasse has
received attention as a raw material in the production of ethanol and other high
value-added products such as xylitol, enzymes, organic acids, microbial protein,
hydrocarbons, and furfural, among others (Nisticò 2017; Restrepo-Serna et al.
2018). Since bagasse is currently used as fuel by Ecuadorian sugar mills, the use
of its ashes in the formulation of cements could also be considered due to its high
silica content.
Residues from shrimp processing are considered to be important sources of
calcium carbonate and chitin. Chitin is a long-chain sugar that can be used for the
production of pharmaceuticals derived from chitosan and glucosamine, valuable
monomers for the biopolymer industry (Oddoye et al. 2013). Coffee husks can be
used as a source of bioactive substances, in the production of biogas and
bioabsorbents for the removal of cyanide, heavy metals, dyes, lead, and fluorine in
water treatment. Coffee pulp also has significant amounts of tannins, polyphenols,
and caffeine. Silver skin is a potential source of antioxidants and can be used in
functional food formulations (Blinová et al. 2017). From the residues of cocoa
processing, mucilage is considered a raw material for the production of beverages,
pectin, and as a source of sugars for fermentation. The shell, on the other hand, can
be used for energy production and its ashes in the manufacture of soil fertilizers or
soaps because of their high potassium and potassium soda content (Balladares et al.
2016; Kaviedez Hernández and Loyola 2014).
The proposal to use these wastes is based on the relative geographical concentration and high volumes of processing, such that their large-scale industrialization will
not be limited by supply chain costs.
3.7.4 Estimation of the Economic Potential of Water Treatment
Expansion
Water pollution has major effects not only on public health but also on a range of
economic activities that depend on clean water. Public health is affected on two
fronts: by the direct consumption of contaminated water and by the consumption of
food products that were exposed to contaminated water during their production.
Economic activities that are limited by the existence of contaminated water sources
are tourism, commercial fishing and aquatic animal farming, and recreational
businesses, among others. The fact that modern water treatment plants use biologically active sludge as a technological basis means that this sector can be explored as
part of the bioeconomy.
The assessment of the economic potential of the expansion of the wastewater
treatment sector will be based on the sum of potential reductions in the economic
impact on people’s health, the expansion of tourism and recreation businesses
related to water sources that are currently biologically contaminated, and the expansion of the commercial fishing industry using currently polluted freshwater sources.
3 Social and Economic Contribution of the Bioeconomic Sector in Ecuador: A. . .
59
the processing of sugarcane, shrimp, coffee, and cocoa. Sugarcane bagasse has
received attention as a raw material in the production of ethanol and other high
value-added products such as xylitol, enzymes, organic acids, microbial protein,
hydrocarbons, and furfural, among others (Nisticò 2017; Restrepo-Serna et al.
2018). Since bagasse is currently used as fuel by Ecuadorian sugar mills, the use
of its ashes in the formulation of cements could also be considered due to its high
silica content.
Residues from shrimp processing are considered to be important sources of
calcium carbonate and chitin. Chitin is a long-chain sugar that can be used for the
production of pharmaceuticals derived from chitosan and glucosamine, valuable
monomers for the biopolymer industry (Oddoye et al. 2013). Coffee husks can be
used as a source of bioactive substances, in the production of biogas and
bioabsorbents for the removal of cyanide, heavy metals, dyes, lead, and fluorine in
water treatment. Coffee pulp also has significant amounts of tannins, polyphenols,
and caffeine. Silver skin is a potential source of antioxidants and can be used in
functional food formulations (Blinová et al. 2017). From the residues of cocoa
processing, mucilage is considered a raw material for the production of beverages,
pectin, and as a source of sugars for fermentation. The shell, on the other hand, can
be used for energy production and its ashes in the manufacture of soil fertilizers or
soaps because of their high potassium and potassium soda content (Balladares et al.
2016; Kaviedez Hernández and Loyola 2014).
The proposal to use these wastes is based on the relative geographical concentration and high volumes of processing, such that their large-scale industrialization will
not be limited by supply chain costs.
3.7.4 Estimation of the Economic Potential of Water Treatment
Expansion
Water pollution has major effects not only on public health but also on a range of
economic activities that depend on clean water. Public health is affected on two
fronts: by the direct consumption of contaminated water and by the consumption of
food products that were exposed to contaminated water during their production.
Economic activities that are limited by the existence of contaminated water sources
are tourism, commercial fishing and aquatic animal farming, and recreational
businesses, among others. The fact that modern water treatment plants use biologically active sludge as a technological basis means that this sector can be explored as
part of the bioeconomy.
The assessment of the economic potential of the expansion of the wastewater
treatment sector will be based on the sum of potential reductions in the economic
impact on people’s health, the expansion of tourism and recreation businesses
related to water sources that are currently biologically contaminated, and the expansion of the commercial fishing industry using currently polluted freshwater sources.
3 Social and Economic Contribution of the Bioeconomic Sector in Ecuador: A. . .
59