Pretreatment techniques for agricultural waste

Abstract

Millions of tons of agricultural waste are generated annually. The disposal and management of these wastes remain a source of legitimate concerns for environmentalists, governments, and other stakeholders. Inappropriate disposal and management of these wastes constitute an environmental eyesore, health hazards, and source of contamination for aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Conversion of agricultural wastes into useful products remains a cost-effective, eco-friendly, and sustainable strategy for waste management. This study reviews various pretreatment practices aimed at improving the biodegradability and digestibility of agricultural lignocellulosic biomass. The common pretreatment techniques such as physical, chemical, biological, and physicochemical as well as the novel green solvent-based pretreatment are reviewed and emphasized to improve their practicability and applicability. This review encompasses the processes, benefits, and drawbacks of the various pretreatment techniques to further enrich literature and stimulate renewed investigations in the research space. The outcome of this study will stimulate further investment in agricultural waste conversion and utilization. Waste conversion is a feasible waste management strategy for a clean environment and sustainable ecosystem. Going forward, more targeted investigations are needed to evolve innovative techniques to simplify the conversion of agricultural wastes into valuable products. Governments, across jurisdictions, environmentalists, policymakers, and other stakeholders should sensitize citizens to dislodge the religious and cultural barriers against waste conversion.

Keywords

• Agricultural waste
• Lignocellulosic biomass
• Pretreatment techniques
• Waste conversion
• Crop residues
• Digestibility