Sustainable bioprocess technologies for urban waste valorization

Abstract

Industrialization and rapid growth of population have led to an increase in the generation of urban wastes. A significant portion of this waste constitutes the organic fraction which could be utilized as a bioresource for recovery of value-added products (biofuels, biochemicals, enzymes, bioplastics, bioelectricity), via bioprocessing technologies such as anaerobic digestion, microbial fermentation and bioelectrochemical systems. Bioprocessing of urban waste is the most reasonable method among the existing diverse methods of waste management in terms of its cost, potential and generation of non-toxic products. This review exclusively covers the strategies adapted for bioprocessing of urban waste. The microbes used during the bioprocessing of these wastes, are known to have a significant potential for degradation of organic waste fractions. In addition, bioprocessing technologies could be combined with other waste treatment methods to enhance the efficacy of waste management. However, these technologies could be successfully implemented only when they receive the support from the national and local governments.

Keywords

• Urban waste
• Bioprocessing
• Microbes
• Valorization