Meat processing waste as a potential feedstock for biochemicals and biofuels – A review of possible conversion technologies

Abstract

Rising sustainability concerns due to the increasing threats of environmental degradation as well as increments in prevailing global temperatures have motivated an intensified research into sustainable biomass technologies. Indeed environmental theorists have consistently emphasised the inevitable need for a paradigm shift from fossil based fuels and chemicals if imminent environmental catastrophe is to be averted. While the utilisation of biomass as feedstock for biofuel production has been well reported in the literature the poor economic performance of such ‘stand-alone’ systems has led to attempts to maximise value extraction via the exploration of the biorefinery concept.This paper therefore proposed the utilisation of the waste streams from meat processing plants as a suitable biorefinery feedstock. This proposal is supported by the recognised product specific characteristic of the waste stream implying an unavoidable accumulation, which may also be considered as indicative of sustainable supply. A review of the existing practises in meat processing waste stream management and utilisation has been explored with the unsustainability of the current landfill disposal and incineration practices firmly established. Possible biomass conversion technologies as well as the possible product streams are explored, with this analysis culminating in the presentation of a structured computer aided biorefinery synthesis and design approach that will facilitate an efficient biorefinery design process.