19 - Processing food waste for the production of platform chemicals

Abstract

Platform chemicals are pivotal feedstocks for producing secondary chemicals, intermediate compounds, and final products. As we are moving toward a green bio-based economy, production of platform chemicals from renewable and sustainable feedstocks has gained significant attention. Besides second generation or lignocellulosic feedstocks, alternate/processed wastes from food processing plants, and domestic and commercial kitchens and restaurants are targeted for valorization into fuels and chemicals. Mixed food wastes rich in nutrients and organic matter such as carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids can be converted into platform chemicals through chemical and biotechnological routes. This book chapter provides an insight into the production of different platform chemicals from processed food wastes. A holistic approach toward conversion processes and its underlined challenges clarifies a biorefinery model, based on the source and availability of various food waste. Production of 12 building blocks as department of energy (DOE) report 3-hydroxypropionic acid, fumaric acid, aspartic acid, succinic acid, glutamic acid, glucaric acid, itaconic acid, levulinic acid, xylitol, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, 2,5-FDCA, glycerol, sorbitol, and hydroxybutyrolactone through different biological/chemical transformations have been detailed. This approach provides a dual advantage by remediation of large quantities of waste and simultaneously generating platform chemicals that act as precursors for the synthesis of a wide array of compounds.