Recycling (Oct 2023)

Avocado Waste Biorefinery: Towards Sustainable Development

  • Teresa Sandoval-Contreras,
  • Fernando González Chávez,
  • Amrita Poonia,
  • Maricarmen Iñiguez-Moreno,
  • Lizet Aguirre-Güitrón

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/recycling8050081
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8, no. 5
p. 81

Abstract

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The increasing demand for avocado consumption has led to a vast generation of waste products. Despite the high nutritional value of avocados, the waste generated from their processing poses a significant environmental challenge. Therefore, the development of a sustainable approach to avocado waste management is a major concern. Biorefinery presents a promising approach to the valorization of avocado waste components, including the seed, peel, and pulp residues. This paper explores the potential of avocado waste biorefinery as a sustainable solution to produce bio-based products. Several approaches, including extraction, hydrolysis, fermentation, and biodegradation, to obtain valuable products such as starch, oil, fiber, and bioactive compounds for food or feed goods have been proposed. The review also highlights the approaches towards addressing challenges of energy security and climate change by utilizing avocado waste as a source to produce biofuels such as biogas, biodiesel, and bioethanol. In conclusion, the development of avocado waste biorefinery presents a promising avenue for sustainable development. This process can efficiently convert the avocado waste components into valuable bio-based products and clean energy sources, contributing to the attainment of a circular economy and a more sustainable future.

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