Possibilities of Using Whey Wastes in Agriculture: Case of Turkey

Liquid wastes are generated during production in the milk and cheese industries. During cheese production, whey emerges as a liquid product. Researchers define waste as raw material instead of waste alone. Hence, there is no doubt that the use and management of waste will gain greater importance in...

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Main Authors: Esmanur Sirmacekic, Atilgan Atilgan, Roman Rolbiecki, Barbara Jagosz, Stanisław Rolbiecki, Osman Gokdogan, Marcin Niemiec, Joanna Kocięcka
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-12-01
Series:Energies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/24/9636
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author Esmanur Sirmacekic
Atilgan Atilgan
Roman Rolbiecki
Barbara Jagosz
Stanisław Rolbiecki
Osman Gokdogan
Marcin Niemiec
Joanna Kocięcka
author_facet Esmanur Sirmacekic
Atilgan Atilgan
Roman Rolbiecki
Barbara Jagosz
Stanisław Rolbiecki
Osman Gokdogan
Marcin Niemiec
Joanna Kocięcka
author_sort Esmanur Sirmacekic
collection DOAJ
description Liquid wastes are generated during production in the milk and cheese industries. During cheese production, whey emerges as a liquid product. Researchers define waste as raw material instead of waste alone. Hence, there is no doubt that the use and management of waste will gain greater importance in the upcoming years. This study discusses the use of whey, which is food waste, in agriculture and the benefits derived from it in terms of energy value. Our research was based on the current literature and the amount of whey that emerged in the dairy industry. For this purpose, the existing literature was evaluated to determine how much waste was produced from whey. The total amount of whey waste in Turkey for 2021 was determined. Afterwards, the amount of potential energy was determined in evaluating these wastes. Turkey’s total amount of potential energy obtained from whey waste was calculated as 570.11 × 10<sup>6</sup> MJ, with 158.36 × 10<sup>6</sup> kWh as potential electrical energy. Moreover, it was calculated that a total of 158.36 × 10<sup>6</sup> kWh of electrical energy would meet the electrical energy of 688,548 families of four people for a month. It is also stated that this potential energy will be used in the field of equivalent electrical energy content and agriculture. It is a fact that cheese wastewater, rich in nutrients and organic matter, can be used in agriculture. Whey is used as animal feed in agricultural fertilization activities and the livestock sector. It has also been understood from the literature that it can also be used in biogas production. However, it should not be forgotten that whey released into rivers, water sources, or sewers threatens the environment due to its high protein content. Therefore, by increasing the number of similar studies on the subject, a wide range of wastes, such as whey, can be utilized in the most accurate manner. As a result, environmental protection, conservation of water resources, and energy conservation can be ensured by properly benefiting from whey waste. Considering that the world population will increase in the future, it is a fact that we will need a cleaner environment and more energy. It was concluded that greater importance should be given to waste management practices for a cleaner environment and energy saving.
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spelling doaj.art-f02651c6af8d4cf386ec712932a4a5e22023-11-24T14:40:34ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732022-12-011524963610.3390/en15249636Possibilities of Using Whey Wastes in Agriculture: Case of TurkeyEsmanur Sirmacekic0Atilgan Atilgan1Roman Rolbiecki2Barbara Jagosz3Stanisław Rolbiecki4Osman Gokdogan5Marcin Niemiec6Joanna Kocięcka7Department of Biosystem Engineering, Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University, Antalya 07-425, TurkeyDepartment of Biosystem Engineering, Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University, Antalya 07-425, TurkeyDepartment of Agrometeorology, Plant Irrigation and Horticulture, Bydgoszcz University of Science and Technology, 85-029 Bydgoszcz, PolandDepartment of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, University of Agriculture in Krakow, 31-120 Krakow, PolandDepartment of Agrometeorology, Plant Irrigation and Horticulture, Bydgoszcz University of Science and Technology, 85-029 Bydgoszcz, PolandDepartment of Agricultural Machinery and Technologies Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Isparta University of Applied Sciences, Isparta 32-260, TurkeyDepartment of Agricultural and Environmental Chemistry, University of Agriculture in Krakow, 31-120 Krakow, PolandDepartment of Land Improvement, Environment Development and Spatial Management, Faculty of Environmental Engineering and Mechanical Engineering, Poznań University of Life Sciences, 60-649 Poznań, PolandLiquid wastes are generated during production in the milk and cheese industries. During cheese production, whey emerges as a liquid product. Researchers define waste as raw material instead of waste alone. Hence, there is no doubt that the use and management of waste will gain greater importance in the upcoming years. This study discusses the use of whey, which is food waste, in agriculture and the benefits derived from it in terms of energy value. Our research was based on the current literature and the amount of whey that emerged in the dairy industry. For this purpose, the existing literature was evaluated to determine how much waste was produced from whey. The total amount of whey waste in Turkey for 2021 was determined. Afterwards, the amount of potential energy was determined in evaluating these wastes. Turkey’s total amount of potential energy obtained from whey waste was calculated as 570.11 × 10<sup>6</sup> MJ, with 158.36 × 10<sup>6</sup> kWh as potential electrical energy. Moreover, it was calculated that a total of 158.36 × 10<sup>6</sup> kWh of electrical energy would meet the electrical energy of 688,548 families of four people for a month. It is also stated that this potential energy will be used in the field of equivalent electrical energy content and agriculture. It is a fact that cheese wastewater, rich in nutrients and organic matter, can be used in agriculture. Whey is used as animal feed in agricultural fertilization activities and the livestock sector. It has also been understood from the literature that it can also be used in biogas production. However, it should not be forgotten that whey released into rivers, water sources, or sewers threatens the environment due to its high protein content. Therefore, by increasing the number of similar studies on the subject, a wide range of wastes, such as whey, can be utilized in the most accurate manner. As a result, environmental protection, conservation of water resources, and energy conservation can be ensured by properly benefiting from whey waste. Considering that the world population will increase in the future, it is a fact that we will need a cleaner environment and more energy. It was concluded that greater importance should be given to waste management practices for a cleaner environment and energy saving.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/24/9636dairy productselectrical energyenergy conservationfertilizationorganic wastessustainable agriculture
spellingShingle Esmanur Sirmacekic
Atilgan Atilgan
Roman Rolbiecki
Barbara Jagosz
Stanisław Rolbiecki
Osman Gokdogan
Marcin Niemiec
Joanna Kocięcka
Possibilities of Using Whey Wastes in Agriculture: Case of Turkey
Energies
dairy products
electrical energy
energy conservation
fertilization
organic wastes
sustainable agriculture
title Possibilities of Using Whey Wastes in Agriculture: Case of Turkey
title_full Possibilities of Using Whey Wastes in Agriculture: Case of Turkey
title_fullStr Possibilities of Using Whey Wastes in Agriculture: Case of Turkey
title_full_unstemmed Possibilities of Using Whey Wastes in Agriculture: Case of Turkey
title_short Possibilities of Using Whey Wastes in Agriculture: Case of Turkey
title_sort possibilities of using whey wastes in agriculture case of turkey
topic dairy products
electrical energy
energy conservation
fertilization
organic wastes
sustainable agriculture
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/24/9636
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