A review of thermal and thermocatalytic valorization of food waste
Date
2021-04-08
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Green Chemistry
Abstract
Food waste (FW) remains a global challenge due to the increasing demand for food production to support a growing global population and the lack of effective waste management technologies for recycling and upcycling. Unique compounds in FW – such as carbohydrates, proteins, lignin, fats, and extractives – can be repurposed to produce important biobased fuels, bulk chemicals, dietary supplements, adsorbents, and antibacterial products, among many others. We review the thermal and thermocatalytic FW valorization strategies and the fundamental pathways. We discuss the potential integration of various valorization processes, their economic viability, the technical and marketing challenges, and the need for further developments. By overcoming several technical hurdles, repurposing FW into modular plants can create exciting economic and environmental prospects.
Description
This article was originally published in Green Chemistry. The version of record is available at: https://doi.org/10.1039/D1GC00536G
Keywords
Food Waste, Sustainability, Kinetics, Valorization, Circular Economy, Biorefinery, Catalysis
Citation
Ebikade, Elvis Osamudiamhen, Sunitha Sadula, Yagya Gupta, and Dionisios G. Vlachos. 2021. “A Review of Thermal and Thermocatalytic Valorization of Food Waste.” Green Chemistry 23 (8): 2806–33. https://doi.org/10.1039/D1GC00536G.