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Review
. 2024 May 6:11:1325190.
doi: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1325190. eCollection 2024.

The future in the litter bin - bioconversion of food waste as driver of a circular bioeconomy

Afraa Razouk  1 , Eduard Tiganescu  1 , Anthea Julia von Glahn  1 , Ahmad Yaman Abdin  1 , Muhammad Jawad Nasim  1 , Claus Jacob  1
Affiliations
Review

The future in the litter bin - bioconversion of food waste as driver of a circular bioeconomy

Afraa Razouk et al. Front Nutr. .

Abstract

Bioconversion of organic waste requires the development and application of rather simple, yet robust technologies capable of transferring biomass into energy and sustainable materials for the future. Food waste plays a significant role in this process as its valorisation reduces waste and at the same time avoids additional exploitation of primary resources. Nonetheless, to literally become "litterate". extensive research into such robust large-scale methods is required. Here, we highlight some promising avenues and materials which fulfill these "waste to value" requirements, from various types of food waste as sustainable sources for biogas, bioethanol and biodiesel to fertilizers and antioxidants from grape pomace, from old-fashioned fermentation to the magic of anaerobic digestion.

Keywords: anaerobic digestion; biofuels; circular economy; composting of food waste; food biomass; insect-based-conversion; sustainability.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Phases of composting including the relevant microorganisms: mesophilic phase, thermophilic phase and the final maturation phase to produce soil compost, conditioner and fertilizers. Photographs were created by © 2024 Elizabeth Jacob.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The complex biopolymers undergo Anaerobic Digestion (AD) which involves a series of biological processes in the presence of microorganisms to produce biogas.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Production of biodiesel via transesterification.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Production of bioethanol from different waste products varies not only in the time required for fermentation but also the yield obtained.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Upcycling of grape seeds for the production of value-added products.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Brewer’s spent grain (BSG, by Homburger Brauhaus, photo generated by the authors) can be employed to produce bread, vegetarian patty or even bioplastics. It can also be pressed to produce sheets or tablets thanks to the presence of lignin which serves as a natural binder.
Figure 7
Figure 7
The Food Recovery Hierarchy enlists the actions which can be carried out by the organizations, individuals, and families for the sustainable management of food waste. The highest priority has been assigned to feed humans and animals, followed by industrial applications, recycling, AD and energy recovery. Landfill and/or incineration have been assigned as the least preferred actions.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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