Chapter 6 - Production of organic acids and enzymes/biocatalysts from food waste

Abstract

A platform chemical is a molecule with a number of functional groups which can thus produce a broad range of many other molecules. Platform chemicals are considered as building blocks from which different kinds of secondary chemicals, intermediates, and products can be produced. Bio-based platform chemicals such as lactic acid, fatty acid, succinic acid, citric acid, tartaric acid production, 1,3-propanediol, 3-hydroxypropionic acid, and 2,3-butanediol have the ability to replace petrochemicals. Food waste is considered to be the best feedstock for the production of these platform chemicals because these wastes contain fermentable carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids. The food waste-based biorefinery is considered as an ideal concept which has received significant attention in recent years. This possibility of converting valueless food waste into platform chemicals has gained worldwide interest. A number of research studies have been carried out to produce such chemicals from food wastes, some of which are discussed in this chapter.