A Biorefinery Based Zero-Waste Utilization of Non-edible Oilseeds for Biodiesel and Biofuel Production Along with Chemicals and Biomaterials

Abstract

Non-edible oilseed yielding plant species comprises a huge volume of biota that produces non-edible oils of lesser economical importance. However, owing to the recent global thrust on renewable energy generation including bioenergy and biofuels, and in view of the emphasis on non-food resources for utilization as feedstock for biofuels, non-edible oilseeds have drawn the attention of the researchers all around the globe. Non-edible oilseed bearing tree species comprises a number of species mostly found to be scattered in different agro-ecological regions, viz. forests, non-forest areas, wasteland, deserts, and hilly areas throughout the world including India. Northeast India being one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots has been reported to harbor a large number of the group. The extractable non-edible oil, depending on its chemical characteristics, can be utilized for biodiesel production following various standardized techniques. However, the biodiesel production process also produces a huge amount of biowastes in the form of seed covers and de-oiled seed cakes, which are lignocellulosic in nature. These wastes can be utilized as a feedstock for pyrolytic valorization to bio-oil and biochars. The de-oiled seed cakes can also be utilized for a number of other industrial uses like preparation of improved feed material, mosquito repellents, etc. Further, the biochar generated as a co-product of pyrolysis meets various uses like soil amendments, drinking water filtration, remediation of heavy metal contaminated wastewater, catalyst preparation, to name a few. It is imperative therefore, that using a cascade of approaches, a little used biomass of lesser economical importance could be utilized for a variety of products and services in a biorefinery mode. This chapter discusses in details about the status of non-edible oilseeds yielding plant species and various approaches for exploring the non-edible oilseed with zero wastes and envisions that non-edible oilseed could be utilized as a possible way-out in various useful purposes.