A Review of the Biomass Valorization Hierarchy

Isabel Pestana da Paixão Cansado (), Paulo Alexandre Mira Mourão, José Eduardo Castanheiro, Pedro Francisco Geraldo, Suhas, Silvia Román Suero and Beatriz Ledesma Cano
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Isabel Pestana da Paixão Cansado: MED—Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development & Change—Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Universidade de Évora, Pólo da Mitra, Apartado 94, 7006-554 Évora, Portugal
Paulo Alexandre Mira Mourão: MED—Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development & Change—Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Universidade de Évora, Pólo da Mitra, Apartado 94, 7006-554 Évora, Portugal
José Eduardo Castanheiro: MED—Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development & Change—Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Universidade de Évora, Pólo da Mitra, Apartado 94, 7006-554 Évora, Portugal
Pedro Francisco Geraldo: Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Campus de Murrópuè, Quelimane, Universidade Licungo, Estrada Nacional 642, Beira 2100, Mozambique
Suhas: Department of Chemistry, Gurukula Kangri Deemed to be University Haridwar, Haridwar 249404, India
Silvia Román Suero: Departamento de Física Aplicada, Escuela de Ingenierías Industriales, Dirección de Oficina COOPERAS, Universidad de Extremadura, 06006 Badajoz, Spain
Beatriz Ledesma Cano: Departamento de Física Aplicada, Escuela de Ingenierías Industriales, Dirección de Oficina COOPERAS, Universidad de Extremadura, 06006 Badajoz, Spain

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 1, 1-29

Abstract: The sustainability of the planet is based on reducing the use of fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emissions. The recovery of biomass waste puts economically valuable materials into circulation, which can successfully replace fossil fuels and which would otherwise be sent to landfills. Based on the review of several published works, we observe that the referenced processes to value biomass or biomass waste are not necessarily the most profitable and environmentally friendly. The most used methods to valorize biomass and biomass waste are mainly based on researchers knowledge and experience, neglecting some methods that are more appropriate or developing technologies. The valorization of biomass and biomass wastes should promote the production of products with the highest added value, and it must also be environmentally friendly and cost-effective. This manuscript proposes a hierarchy for the use of various valorization processes of biomass waste, from various agricultural activities, urban solids waste, food processing industries, and even wood industries. The proposed hierarchy is based on a number of recommendations aimed at increasing the use and valorization of biomass, in order to reach the objective of carbon neutrality and to comply with the principles of the circular economy.

Keywords: biomass waste; valorization; reduction; hierarchy; circular economy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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