“Heaven’s Light Is Our Guide”

RAJSHAHI UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY

Assignment
on
An overview on valorization of agro industrial waste
SUBMITTED BY__
Nur Mohammad Nabil
Roll: 1811013
Department of CFPE
Session: 2018-19

SUBMITTED TO__
Md. Sajjad Hossain
Assistant Professor
Dept. of Chemical and Food Process Engineering.
 “AN OVERVIEW ON VALORIZATION OF AGRO INDUSTRIAL WASTE”

Energy recovery from waste resources is a promising approach towards environmental

Valorization of agro-industrial waste refers to the process of extracting value or useful products
from waste generated during agricultural and industrial activities. This approach aims to reduce
waste, minimize environmental impact, and create economic opportunities. Agro-industrial waste
includes byproducts and residues from various stages of agricultural and food processing, such as
crop residues, fruit peels, husks, shells, and other organic materials. Here's an overview of the
concept and its key aspects:
1. Biogas and Bioenergy Production: Agro-industrial waste, such as crop residues, food
scraps, and organic byproducts, can be used to generate biogas through anaerobic digestion.
Biogas is a renewable energy source that can be used for electricity generation, heating,
and cooking.
2. Biochemical and Biomaterials: Agro-industrial waste can serve as a feedstock for the
production of various biochemical and biomaterials, such as bio-based plastics, biofuels,
and bio-based chemicals used in industries like pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.
3. Animal Feed and Fertilizers: Some agro-industrial waste can be processed and
transformed into animal feed or organic fertilizers. For instance, leftover fruit and
vegetable scraps can be converted into nutritious animal feed, while composted waste can
enrich soil fertility.
4. Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods: Extracts and compounds derived from agro-
industrial waste may possess bioactive properties that can be used in the production of
nutraceuticals and functional foods, offering potential health benefits to consumers.
5. Food Additives and Flavors: Certain components of agro-industrial waste can be used to
create natural food additives, colors, and flavors, reducing the need for synthetic
alternatives and enhancing the sustainability of food production.
6. Textiles and Clothing: Fibers from plant-based agro-industrial waste, such as cotton stalks
or banana stems, can be processed to create sustainable textiles for clothing and other
textile-based products.
7. Biodegradable Packaging: Agro-industrial waste can be transformed into biodegradable
and compostable packaging materials, reducing the environmental impact of plastic waste.
8. Medicinal and Aromatic Products: Some agro-industrial waste contains compounds used
in traditional medicine or in the production of aromatic products, such as essential oils or
herbal extracts.
 9. Mushroom Cultivation Substrates: Certain agro-industrial waste, such as agricultural
residues and sawdust, can be used as substrates for mushroom cultivation, contributing to
the production of edible and medicinal mushrooms.
10. Construction Materials: Agro-industrial waste can be used in the development of
construction materials, such as particle boards, composites, and insulation materials.
11. Wastewater Treatment and Bioremediation: Some agro-industrial waste, particularly
plant-based materials, can be utilized in wastewater treatment and bioremediation
processes to remove pollutants and improve water quality.
12. Carbon Sequestration: Incorporating agro-industrial waste into soil or using it for carbon
capture can contribute to carbon sequestration and soil health improvement.
13. Value-Added Beverages: Agro-industrial waste can be used in the production of
beverages like teas, juices, and fermented drinks, adding unique flavors and potential health
benefits.

Valorization Methods of Agricultural Food Wastes/Byproducts

The value-added products, which are fine chemicals, nutraceuticals, antioxidants, bioactive,
biopolymers, bio peptides, antibiotics, industrial enzymes, bio nanocomposites, single-cell
proteins, polysaccharides, activated carbon adsorbent, chitosan, corrosion inhibitors, organic
acids, pigments, sugars, wax esters, and xanthan gum, can be recovered by using food wastes as a
substrate. The conventional treatment of food waste such as landfilling and incineration leads to
environmental, economic, and social problems. Thus, several available valorization methods,
which are more sustainable and profitable to manage food waste, arise as alternative options to
obtain the value-added products mentioned above. Also, special chemicals refined from food
waste, varying from solvent to antioxidant materials, are essential for nutraceutical and biomaterial
applications. The combined methods, including biochemical, chemical, and physical steps, should
be applied to separate the potentially marketable compounds found in food wastes and byproducts
to selectively extract and modify the preferred components and change them to higher-value food
products and additives. These methods should be applied carefully to avoid microbiological
hazards and ensure that the final products are suitable for consumers’ taste and produced by
following the food regulations.
Only the effective utilization of renewable resources and the exploitation of renewable carbon can
replace fossil resources to produce chemicals, materials, polymers, fuels, and energy. The
industrial development will be sustainable through specialty product extraction, conversion by
green chemical or biotechnological processes, integrated bio refining, industrial symbiosis,
cascade processing, and on-site processing of seasonal waste streams, obtained by the effective
exploitation of agricultural and forestry residues, aquatic biomass, and different waste
streams. The coproducts, which are not appropriate for food exploitation, should be utilized as
energy sources after the application of fermentation, biogas production, and composting,
indicating that an integrated bio refinery approach can provide the valorization of food waste for
bioactive molecule production for pharmaceutical, cosmetic, food, and nonfood applications.
Biofuel
Biofuel, which can be in solid, liquid, and gaseous forms, is defined as the energy originated from
biomass and refined products of biomass, consisting of bioethanol, biodiesel, bio kerosene, natural
gas, etc. From the beginning of human civilization, biofuel has been widely used in daily human
activities like cooking, lighting, and heating. The production of biofuel, as an alternative fuel, is
increasingly supported worldwide, because of the problems regarding the production and
permanence of petroleum and coal-based fuels. Nowadays, countries are working on the utilization
of their food wastes as fuels. For example, a project including Nordic countries focuses on the
policies to increase the use of food wastes and the investigation of new technologies to transform
their wastes into transport fuels. Denmark, Finland, and Sweden are currently using their food
wastes such as fruit and vegetable wastes, animal-based wastes, bakery wastes, and bio wastes
from households, agricultural byproducts, industrial and commercial origins in biodiesel,
bioethanol, and biogas production. Some of the most common biofuels and their applications are
summarized in the following paragraphs.
Biodiesel, which is fatty acid methyl ester, is produced from several plant oils, including soybean,
rapeseed, and canola, by direct or indirect transesterification. The study of Karee and Lin
exemplified the use of low-cost food waste in biodiesel production. They obtained the lipids by
the fungal hydrolysis of food wastes, and these lipids are trans esterified to produce biodiesel.
Biogas like bio methane/hydrogen/hythane, another biofuel and renewable energy source, is
obtained by anaerobic digestion of agro-food biomass residuals, considering the renewable energy
legislation of the EU. However, some components in biogas, such as hydrogen sulfide, carbon
dioxide, nitrogen, hydrogen, oxygen, and water vapor, cause a decrease in calorific value
compared to natural gas. Some physicochemical and biological technologies include cleaning and
upgrading techniques to evaluate the raw biogas quality. Biological methods, cryogenic separation,
hydrate separation, membrane enrichment, in situ upgrading, multistage, and high-pressurized
anaerobic digestion can be given as examples of advanced modern biogas upgrading
techniques. As an example of biogas production from food waste, a study focused on improving
the anaerobic digestion process used in biogas production. They concluded that the practical usage
of ultrasound during the pretreatment of food wastes and the anaerobic digestion increase the yield
of biogas within a shorter time range. Recently, an innovative solid-state micro anaerobic digestion
process has been developed to valorize food waste by degrading them. This technology makes
anaerobic digestion a compact process that requires low water and energy. A quantity of 143 L/kg
methane was produced via the solid-state micro anaerobic digestion process, which is planned to
be improved to increase its applicability and optimize its process conditions. Another popular
biofuel is bio alcohol, which is considered as an emerging alternative liquid fuel, because of its
petroleum-like characteristics. It represents the most commercialized transportation fuel, which
achieves carbon neutrality and is compatible with an internal combustion engine. Ethanol is
produced by the microbial fermentation of various feedstocks, including potatoes, molasses, corn,
Stover, wheat, sugar cane, bagasse, sugar beet, grain, switchgrass, barley, and many other
carbohydrate-rich sources, and is the most common bio alcohol. In addition, fast food wastes, as a
good source of carbohydrates, were used for bioethanol production. For instance, ethanol was
produced by enzymatic hydrolysis with α-amylase and fermentation process from the waste of
pizza with the highest yield of 0.292 g/g waste of pizza waste of hamburger with the highest output
of 0.271 g/g waste of hamburger. Biochar, a carbon-rich biofuel, is produced with a charring (or
pyrolysis) process, by heating the biomass above 250 °C under limited or no air conditions. It is
used as a renewable carbon material in many areas, especially soil amendment and environmental
management. For instance, along with the benefits of biochar in mediating soil acidity, water
holding capacity, cation exchange capacity, and nutrient retention, it is considered a suitable
electrode in supercapacitors, which are used within green energy storage devices.
Challenges, limitations and solutions of valorization of agro industrial waste:
Technical Complexity: Developing efficient and economically viable valorization processes for
specific waste streams can be challenging.
Regulatory Hurdles: Some waste materials may be subject to regulations, which could impact
the feasibility of certain valorization approaches.
Infrastructure and Investment: Establishing the necessary infrastructure for waste collection,
processing, and valorization requires investment and collaboration among various stakeholders.
Market Acceptance: Creating a market demand for products derived from agro-industrial waste
can be challenging, especially if consumers are not familiar with or resistant to new materials or
products
Notwithstanding the challenges and limitations of biomass waste valorization, integrating existing
technologies may cut costs and be an environmentally-friendly approach that will remarkably
enhance both the economic and environmental values of biomass waste recycling and utilization
in circular bio economy.
Current perspectives, future prospects and conclusions:
The major advantage of agro based industry is the cheap and easy availability of waste which
will reduce the input cost of plant. In conclusion, valorization of agro-industrial waste offers a
promising pathway to reduce waste generation, promote sustainable practices, and create economic
value. Advances in technology, research, and collaboration among stakeholders are essential for
realizing the full potential of agro-industrial waste valorization.