Evaluation of Environmental Parameters and Energy Consumption in Milk Powder Production

Document Type : Original Research

Authors

Department of Agricultural Machinery Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran.

Abstract

The present study examines energy indicators and environmental impacts related to the production of milk powder in the Moghan Fertile Plain, Iran. This study evaluated energy indicators by determining the consumption and production of energy across various stages of milk powder manufacturing, including fodder supply, milk provision, and milk powder processing. Furthermore, cumulative exergy demand index was used to estimate different forms of energy consumption in the production of one ton of milk powder. In milk powder production, energy consumption across three production stages was found to be 7486.13 MJ/ton, while output energy in those stages amounted to 3063.62 MJ/ton. Consumption of natural gas, diesel, and diesel fuel amounted to 1930.5, 1864.2, and 1805.7 MJ/ton of energy consumption, respectively. These inputs were predominantly attributed to the fodder production process, indicating its significant role in energy consumption during milk powder manufacturing. In conclusion, optimizations in production and efficient energy utilization within the fodder production stage show potential to minimize energy consumption in milk powder production. The study reveals that the energy consumption during milk powder production exceeds the produced energy. With a global warming potential of 0.02 kg CO₂, emissions are minimal.

Keywords

References

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History

  • Receive Date: 27 May 2025
  • Accept Date: 31 May 2025

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