Energy and value-added products generation by Biorefining of agri-
food residues and biowaste
Abstract:
Due to the rising human population and urbanization, the amount of solid waste has steadily increased
in recent years. Household waste increased dramatically, especially during and after the pandemic.
According to the findings, 43%-47% of respondents saw an increase in their consumption of packaged
food, food delivery, and fresh food. Furthermore, there have been increases of 42% and 50% in food
waste and plastic packaging, respectively. Agricultural wastes account for 30% to 40% of total solid
waste generated in several countries, putting additional strain on municipal solid waste (MSW)
management systems and contributing significantly to GHG emissions.
Conversion of household waste, particularly agriculture residues, and animal and poultry manure into
bioplastics, biosorbents, biofertilizers, syngas, pectin, 3D printed materials, medium-chain fatty acids,
small-chain fatty acids, Antibiotics, Enzymes, Chelating agents, Biodiesel, Organic acids, electricity,
Biobutanol, methanol, acetone, and solvents by novel biorefining processes like hydrogenation,
hydrolysis, Solvent extraction, Microwave-assisted extraction, gasification, Supercritical fluid
extraction, Ultrasonic-assisted extraction, anaerobic digestion, Enzyme-assisted extraction, pyrolysis,
dark fermentation, photo fermentation, vermicomposting and bioconversion would have a direct
benefit on food production by lowering its environmental impact, improving soil nutrition, and
reducing the need for synthetic chemical fertilizer. This study also explains how to convert household
biomedical waste into value-added products. This review attempts to summarise recent advances in
bio-waste-to-energy production technologies derived from various bio-waste sources. An integrated
strategy for recovering value-added products has been proposed, resulting in a self-sustaining circular
economy with nearly zero waste generation and complete degradation.
The most widely available lignocellulosic and starchy residues can be fermented only after appropriate
pre-treatment, which is currently quite expensive and thus requires further development. This review
also identifies the various process steps required to recover high-value products from household
waste and agricultural residues, such as pre-treatments, simultaneous saccharification and
fermentation, volume reduction, phase change, solid removal, purification, and formulation, and
provides an overview of these different development areas, as well as future prospects for discovery,
life cycle assessment, and impact on biorefining.