Sáenz Baños, Mercedes Irache

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https://academica-e.unavarra.es/handle/2454/52144

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Sáenz Baños

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Mercedes Irache

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Ingeniería

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751400

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TA119717

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2022 - 20233
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Author: Martínez Cámara, Eduardo ×

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Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
  • Thumbnail Image
    PublicationOpen Access
    Water footprint of a 5 kg bag of washed potatoes
    (Cal-Tek srl, 2023) Sáenz Baños, Mercedes Irache; Latorre Biel, Juan Ignacio; Martínez Cámara, Eduardo; Jiménez Macías, Emilio; Blanco Fernández, Julio; Ingeniería; Ingeniaritza
    Climate change and water scarcity increasingly impact agricultural systems. Therefore, studying food systems in depth through a water footprint perspective and their effects on water resources is necessary. Potatoes are one of the most widely consumed foods globally. This article analyzes the water footprint of a 5 kg bag of washed potatoes using a life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology. A cradle-to-gate model is created, and four environmental impact assessment methods are applied to determine the impacts on water resources. The results obtained are consistent across all four methods, indicating that water consumption in the potato washing stage has the most significant impact. The second highest water consumption occurs during the agricultural cultivation phase. Furthermore, this agricultural phase has the highest impact on other water-related categories, including such as Water Pollutants, Persistent Organic Pollutant (POP) into Water, Heavy Metals into Water, and Radioactive Substances into Water.
  • Thumbnail Image
    PublicationOpen Access
    Analysis of product shrinkage and waste in a potato bagging plant
    (Dime University of Genoa, 2022) Sáenz Baños, Mercedes Irache; Latorre Biel, Juan Ignacio; Blanco Fernández, Julio; Martínez Cámara, Eduardo; Pérez de la Parte, P.; Jiménez Macías, Emilio; Ingeniería; Ingeniaritza
    Nowadays, an average of 2 kg of waste per person are generated in Spain. Furthermore, the household consumption is rising and, as a consequence, the waste production is also increasing. This trend presents a direct impact in the environment. Moreover, after two years of COVID-19 pandemic, it has been detected a stronger rise in consumption per person, while consumption through professional commercial channels for hospitality industry has been lower. This paper analizes the waste generation and product shrinkage in a potato bagging plant, which addresses its production to both final consumers and retailers. The raw materials washing line, as well as the production line, are taken into consideration in the analysis, while new uses to the produced waste are proposed, aiming at providing new useful life, such as the production of bioplastics or the production of biodiesel. As a consequence, the environment impact is minimized and new products are obtained.
  • Thumbnail Image
    PublicationOpen Access
    Methodology for energy demand reduction of potato cold storage process
    (Wiley, 2022) Sáenz Baños, Mercedes Irache; Latorre Biel, Juan Ignacio; Martínez Cámara, Eduardo; Jiménez Macías, Emilio; Longo, Francesco; Blanco Fernández, Julio; Ingeniería Mecánica, Energética y de Materiales; Mekanika, Energetika eta Materialen Ingeniaritza
    In order to maintain the quality of the potatoes over time, it is necessary to store them under certain storage conditions, which minimize losses both of quality and product, preferably without using chemical treatments. Conservation chambers consume a considerable amount of energy. Between 60% and 70% of the electricity consumed is used in refrigeration. Good insulation reduces the need for cooling the potato since its optimum storage temperature for consumption is around 4–7 C and relative humidity is 85%–90%. This research studies potatoes’ cold storage process to minimize the cost in the product value chain and to ensure its competitiveness in the market. A model is developed to assess energy consumption and propose measures to reduce energy, environmental, and economic costs. All this to reduce their impact within the value chain of potato consumption. Practical Applications: In this case study, different energy efficiency measures applied to the cold storage of potatoes have been implemented: replacement or improvement of the performance of refrigeration equipment, insulation and infiltrations in the refrigeration chamber, control of the product entry temperature, thermal conditioning through free-cooling, improvements in lighting equipment, technical management, and supervision of facilities, and thermographic control. The set of actions implemented has allowed to obtain a reduction in energy demand, standardized through the developed reference line, by 16.41% compared to previous years.