Chapter 11 - Integrated biopolymer and bioenergy production from organic wastes: Recent advances and future outlook

Abstract

Effective waste management has attracted attention as one of the advanced biotechnologies for a sustainable and clean environment. Sustainability can be achieved by transforming organic waste substances into bioenergy and biomaterials. Consequently, a considerable decline in the consumption of fossil fuel can be observed which in turn leads to a healthier environment. Various industrial attempts have been made for synthesis of biopolymers and biofuels. However, the traditional production strategies include economically unfavorable processes such as commercially available carbon sources, separation, and purification of biopolymers from microbial strains. In contrast, the advanced biotechnologies involve the consumption of inexpensive and widely available organic wastes as starting materials. These organic wastes can be obtained from the activities of various sectors such as agriculture, food, and industries as well as municipal wastes. Moreover, the concept of integrated systems (simultaneous production of bioenergy and biopolymers from a single substrate composed of microbial strains, organic by-products, and waste substances) have further improved the economy as well as the ecological prospects of advanced biorefineries. This chapter provides useful insights into organic wastes for simultaneous production of high quality bioenergy and biopolymers. The broad spectrum of chemical composition of organic wastes, chemical insights into biopolymer, traditional synthesis of biofuel and bioenergy, and features of integrated technologies are discussed systematically.