A detailed survey of recyclable food discards for the production of alternative fuels – Present and future aspects

Arivalagan Pugazhendhi and Ashutosh Sharma

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2025, vol. 208, issue C

Abstract: Food waste residues and discards from vegetables, fruits, bread, meat, and dairy products are often discarded in landfills as waste. However, these wasted food residues can be utilized to produce renewable, cost-effective, eco-friendly, and eliminate greenhouse gases. The conversion of biological food wastes into biofuels can also fulfil the existing demand for fossil fuels in transportation. Food discards are rich in fatty acids, lipids, and carbohydrates suitable for producing biodiesel, bioethanol, biomethane, biohydrogen, and biobutanol. There are some significant problems when it comes to using food waste for biofuels. Some of the considerations include maintaining the policies for the food wastes, methodologies employed for conversion, and availability of the raw material throughout the year. Although gasification of waste food products is widespread, the results are unsatisfactory. However, to find out a better way to use food discards for biofuel production, it is essential to find promising technologies. The present literature survey emphasizes the catalytic routes that have shown promising fuel outputs embedded techniques and methodologies, namely transesterification, cracking, and fermentation. We conclude that bioethanol and biodiesel production by enzymatic method is precise, and catalytic cracking is the promising better technique in prime aspects. This review provides details on the use of different food waste in producing biofuels, the economic impact of using food discards, and the futuristic plan for using food discard in beneficial, cost-effective, and eco-friendly ways.

Keywords: Biofuel; Biodiesel; Food waste; Alternative fuel; Biorefinery processes (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2024.115005

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