Bio-refining of food waste for fuel and value products

Advancing a food loss and waste bioproduct industry: A critical review of policy approaches for application in an Australian context

Food loss and waste (FLW) contains an abundance of nutrient components that can be extracted and converted into valuable bioproducts through biorefining (e.g., pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, nutrients). Australia has identified bioproducts from a FLW feedstock as one avenue through which it can meet its commitment to UN Sustainable Development Goal Target 12.3, aiming to halve food waste by 2030. An industry for bioproducts in Australia is, however, nascent and will require targeted and sustained policy intervention to advance in line with the production targets it has set to meet Target 12.3. The aim of this critical review is threefold. Firstly, it draws on the research literature to identify barriers to advancing a bioproduct industry from FLW. Secondly, it constructs a taxonomy of policies available to overcome these barriers and support industry development. Finally, it applies the taxonomy to established policy settings in Australia (examining both national settings and Queensland state settings) and the European Union (EU), where the industry and associated policy is more mature. Australia has few national policies directly targeting a bioproduct industry. A comparative assessment of policy settings allows this review to identify lessons Australia can draw from the EU experience as it advances its own industry. Findings demonstrate a complex and fragmented policy landscape. Key recommendations from the literature emphasise the need to establish coordinated strategic instruments; target research and development opportunities for optimised, sustainable processes; and implement appropriate incentives to establish a 'level playing field', as technology readiness increases. The critical requirement for policy stability and coherence, flags the need to lay groundwork policy in this area as a priority.

Integrated Approach for Wastewater Treatment and Biofuel Production in Microalgae Biorefineries

The increasing world population generates huge amounts of wastewater as well as large energy demand. Additionally, fossil fuel’s combustion for energy production causes the emission of greenhouse gases (GHG) and other pollutants. Therefore, there is a strong need to find alternative green approaches for wastewater treatment and energy production. Microalgae biorefineries could represent an effective strategy to mitigate the above problems. Microalgae biorefineries are a sustainable alternative to conventional wastewater treatment processes, as they potentially allow wastewater to be treated at lower costs and with lower energy consumption. Furthermore, they provide an effective means to recover valuable compounds for biofuel production or other applications. This review focuses on the current scenario and future prospects of microalgae biorefineries aimed at combining wastewater treatment with biofuel production. First, the different microalgal cultivation systems are examined, and their main characteristics and limitations are discussed. Then, the technologies available for converting the biomass produced during wastewater treatment into biofuel are critically analyzed. Finally, current challenges and research directions for biofuel production and wastewater treatment through this approach are outlined.

Thermophysical and rheological properties of sorbitol + ([mmim](MeO)2PO2) ionic liquid solutions: Solubility, density and viscosity

In this study, the solubility, density and viscosity of sorbitol as a sugar alcohol in the ([mmim](MeO)₂PO₂) ionic liquid (IL) were measured. The results indicated that sorbitol is highly soluble in this IL. The Flory-Huggins model with an average value for the χ parameter was successfully applied to predict the solubility of sorbitol in IL. The thermodynamic properties such as enthalpy, entropy and Gibbs free energy of dissolution were obtained using experimental solubility data, which demonstrated that the dissolution process is endothermic and non-spontaneous and includes an entropy increase. In addition, the apparent molar volume, apparent molar expansion and thermal expansion coefficient were calculated. The study of the rheological behavior revealed that the sorbitol/IL solution is Newtonian and the Arrhenius, Litovitz, Orrick-Erbar-Type and Vogel-Fulcher-Tamman models were used to correlate the viscosity data.

Recent advances on the sustainable approaches for conversion and reutilization of food wastes to valuable bioproducts

The increasing amounts of food wastage and accumulation generated per annum due to the growing human population worldwide often associated with environmental pollution issues and scarcity of natural resources. In view of this, science community has worked towards in finding sustainable approaches to replace the common practices for food waste management. The agricultural and food processing wastes rich in nutrients are often the attractive substrates for the bioconversion for valuable bioproducts such as industrial enzymes, biofuel and bioactive compounds. The sustainable approaches on the re-utilization of food wastes as the industrial substrates for production of valuable bioproducts has meet the goals of circular bioeconomy, results in the diversify applications and increasing market demands for the bioproducts. This review discusses the current practice and recent advances on reutilization of food waste for bioconversion of valuable bioproducts from agricultural and food processing wastes.

Present Status and Potential of Biomass Energy in Pakistan Based on Existing and Future Renewable Resources

Pakistan is a developing country that is experiencing a shortage of electricity generation due to its rapidly growing demand. The existing and upcoming energy requirements for power generation and future transportation can be met by efficient utilisation of homegrown biomass resources. Determining the present energy mix resources in various sectors of the country is important. This article analyses the biomass resources and their potential and bioenergy utilisation in Pakistan. An overview of the global renewable energy scenario is presented. This article accentuates the importance and challenges of new technologies and estimates the current and future share of power generation from renewable sources, focusing on the technical potential of biomass energy, which is obtained from agricultural residues, animal manure and municipal solid wastes in Pakistan. This paper highlights the developing technologies that are primarily used to convert biomass waste into energy and presents a critical consideration on future directions in drafting the bioenergy framework policy in Pakistan. For effective implementation of biomass-based renewable energy production in the country, this paper presents an extensive literature review on current and future perspectives and suggestions on future directions and policies to overcome the deficit in electricity supply and environmental concerns. Furthermore, this paper discusses the utilisation of biomass resources in the rapidly growing transportation sector and presents a solution for upcoming mass transit projects in two major cities in Pakistan. The conclusion is that biomass energy is the most sustainable, eco-friendly and efficient renewable energy and is an emerging renewable energy resource that can meet the growing energy demand in Pakistan.

Co-digestion of food waste and sewage sludge for methane production: Current status and perspective

Food waste (FW) is a valuable resource which requires sustainable management avenues to reduce the hazardous environmental impacts and add-value for better economy. Anaerobic digestion (AD) is still reliable, cost-effective technology for waste management. Conventional AD was originally designed for sewer sludge digestion, is not effective for FW due to mainly high organics and volatile fatty acid (VFA) accumulation, hence better technical aptitudes and biochemical inputs are required for optimal biogas production. Besides, to overcome these challenges, FW co-digestion with complementary organic waste e.g. sewage sludge (SS) mixed which complement each other for better process design. The main aim of this article is to summarize the recent updates and review different holistic approaches for efficient anaerobic co-digestion (AcoD) of FW and SS to provide a comprehensive review on the topic. Moreover, to demonstrate the status and perspectives of AcoD at present scenario for Hong Kong and rest of the world.

Magnetically Modified Agricultural and Food Waste: Preparation and Application

The annual food and agricultural waste production reaches enormous numbers. Therefore, an increasing need to valorize produced wastes arises. Waste materials originating from the food and agricultural industry can be considered as functional materials with interesting properties and broad application potential. Moreover, using an appropriate magnetic modification, smart materials exhibiting a rapid response to an external magnetic field can be obtained. Such materials can be easily and selectively separated from desired environments. Magnetically responsive waste derivatives of biological origins have already been prepared and used as efficient biosorbents for the isolation and removal of both biologically active compounds and organic and inorganic pollutants and radionuclides, as biocompatible carriers for the immobilization of diverse types of (bio)molecules, cells, nano- and microparticles, or (bio)catalysts. Potential bactericidal, algicidal, or anti-biofilm properties of magnetic waste composites have also been tested. Furthermore, low cost and availability of waste biomaterials in larger amounts predetermine their utilization in large-scale processes.