Renewable Energy Products through Bioremediation of Wastewater

Ravi Kant Bhatia, Deepak Sakhuja, Shyam Mundhe and Abhishek Walia
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Ravi Kant Bhatia: Department of Biotechnology, Himachal Pradesh University, Summer Hill, Shimla 171005 (H.P.), India
Deepak Sakhuja: Department of Biotechnology, Himachal Pradesh University, Summer Hill, Shimla 171005 (H.P.), India
Shyam Mundhe: Department of Biotechnology, Himachal Pradesh University, Summer Hill, Shimla 171005 (H.P.), India
Abhishek Walia: Department of Microbiology, College of Basic Sciences, CSKHPKV, Palampur 176062 (H.P.), India

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 18, 1-24

Abstract: Due to rapid urbanization and industrialization, the population density of the world is intense in developing countries. This overgrowing population has resulted in the production of huge amounts of waste/refused water due to various anthropogenic activities. Household, municipal corporations (MC), urban local bodies (ULBs), and industries produce a huge amount of waste water, which is discharged into nearby water bodies and streams/rivers without proper treatment, resulting in water pollution. This mismanaged treatment of wastewater leads to various challenges like loss of energy to treat the wastewater and scarcity of fresh water, beside various water born infections. However, all these major issues can provide solutions to each other. Most of the wastewater generated by ULBs and industries is rich in various biopolymers like starch, lactose, glucose lignocellulose, protein, lipids, fats, and minerals, etc. These biopolymers can be converted into sustainable biofuels, i.e., ethanol, butanol, biodiesel, biogas, hydrogen, methane, biohythane, etc., through its bioremediation followed by dark fermentation (DF) and anaerobic digestion (AD). The key challenge is to plan strategies in such a way that they not only help in the treatment of wastewater, but also produce some valuable energy driven products from it. This review will deal with various strategies being used in the treatment of wastewater as well as for production of some valuable energy products from it to tackle the upcoming future demands and challenges of fresh water and energy crisis, along with sustainable development.

Keywords: effluent; anaerobic digestion; incineration; Co-pyrolysis; syngas; biodiesel; biofuel (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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