Innovative conversion of food waste into biofuel in integrated waste management system

Abstract

Pursuance of the strong motivation in combating climate change and energy security as well as the desired shift toward biofuels from food waste as a renewable energy sources offers opportunities for the substitution of fossil fuels, thus contributing to better waste conversion in a more sustainable manner. This study reports on the current situation of biofuel production, hypothetical barriers of the food waste feedstock, technology readiness and conversion, policies support, demand of the biofuels, community involvement and additional value creation in the economic sector. Meanwhile, extensive research in laboratory and pilot scale for biofuel production from food waste are reported in this article presenting a major barrier in constructing smart facilities integrating food waste processing and biofuel plant technology, metabolic pathway involved and the policy uncertainty impeding the investment in the large scale. It is worth addressing that this is the first study that provides a better understanding on the factors influencing the viability of biofuel industry utilizing mainly food waste as feedstock. The information offers a new horizon to the government and potential investors in the future development of biofuels from food waste of municipal solid waste.

Highlights

• Food wastes is one of the most viable feedstock for domestic biofuel production

• Food wastes are accounted of 70% of overall weight of MSW

• Key advances and barriers of food wastes for biofuel production are reviewed.

• Technology readiness of food waste for biofuel production are assessed.

• Economy, environmental and social impacts of biofuel from food waste are presented.

Graphical abstract

Keywords:

• Biofuels
• food waste
• municipal solid waste
• policies
• technology

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the Kyushu Institute of Technology, Japan for the financial support and contributions of Universiti Putra Malaysia is highly appreciated and acknowledged.

Disclosure statement

There are no potential conflict of interest to declare.