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Review
. 2021 Apr 7;14(1):87.
doi: 10.1186/s13068-021-01939-5.

Waste biorefinery towards a sustainable circular bioeconomy: a solution to global issues

Hui Yi Leong #  1 , Chih-Kai Chang #  2 , Kuan Shiong Khoo  3 , Kit Wayne Chew  4 , Shir Reen Chia  3 , Jun Wei Lim  5 , Jo-Shu Chang  6   7   8 , Pau Loke Show  9
Affiliations
Review

Waste biorefinery towards a sustainable circular bioeconomy: a solution to global issues

Hui Yi Leong et al. Biotechnol Biofuels. .

Abstract

Global issues such as environmental problems and food security are currently of concern to all of us. Circular bioeconomy is a promising approach towards resolving these global issues. The production of bioenergy and biomaterials can sustain the energy-environment nexus as well as substitute the devoid of petroleum as the production feedstock, thereby contributing to a cleaner and low carbon environment. In addition, assimilation of waste into bioprocesses for the production of useful products and metabolites lead towards a sustainable circular bioeconomy. This review aims to highlight the waste biorefinery as a sustainable bio-based circular economy, and, therefore, promoting a greener environment. Several case studies on the bioprocesses utilising waste for biopolymers and bio-lipids production as well as bioprocesses incorporated with wastewater treatment are well discussed. The strategy of waste biorefinery integrated with circular bioeconomy in the perspectives of unravelling the global issues can help to tackle carbon management and greenhouse gas emissions. A waste biorefinery-circular bioeconomy strategy represents a low carbon economy by reducing greenhouse gases footprint, and holds great prospects for a sustainable and greener world.

Keywords: Bio-lipids; Biopolymers; Circular bioeconomy; Waste biorefinery; Wastewater bioremediation.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Schematic view delineates the outline of this review article. The concept of low carbon economy involves recycling, reusing, remanufacturing and maintaining existing processes
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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