Exploring Sustainable Energy: An Overview of Biochemical and Thermochemical Conversion of Dairy and Food Waste

Abstract

The world faces significant energy challenges, exacerbated by population growth and industrialization. The dairy and food industries, which operate globally, generate large amounts of waste that can harm the environment. Therefore, finding environmentally friendly methods to manage food waste is not just essential, but a matter of grave importance. Dairy and food waste, rich in organic material, contains substantial energy potential. One promising solution is converting this waste into biofuels, which can help meet the growing fuel demand while conserving fossil fuel resources. This review explores various techniques for converting dairy and food waste into biofuels, such as anaerobic digestion, biohydrogen production, and producing liquid biofuels from dairy waste. The high content of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats in dairy waste, including manure and whey, provides essential nutrients for bacteria that facilitate waste conversion into energy and enhance production rates. The review also discusses thermochemical conversion methods for food waste, including pyrolysis, hydrothermal carbonization, and supercritical water gasification. This highlights the potential of food waste to generate clean energy through various thermochemical processes. However, dairy and food waste may contain harmful substances, like detergents, negatively impacting conversion. Proper segregation and homogenization of waste can improve energy production efficiency. While these approaches hold promise, certain challenges hinder their widespread adoption. This article aims to promote sustainable development by comprehensively assessing efficient dairy and food waste-to-energy conversion technologies.