Techno-economic and environmental sustainability prospects on biochemical conversion of agricultural and algal biomass to biofuels

• Published in: Journal of cleaner production 2023-08, Vol.414, p.137749, Article 137749
• Main Authors: Saravanan, A., Yaashikaa, P.R., Senthil Kumar, P., Vickram, A.S., Karishma, S., Kamalesh, R., Rangasamy, Gayathri
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biochemical conversion; Biofuel; Life cycle analysis; Pre-treatment; Techno-economic
• ISSN: 0959-6526; 1879-1786
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.137749

The depletion of energy resources and environmental concerns have sped up the development of sustainable energy by combining renewable resources. The biofuel sector has given agricultural and algal biomass key attention. A variety of valuable components in biomass can be converted using different conversion procedures into platform fuels. The valorisation of economically and environmentally sustainable biomass waste could be very advantageous in terms of efficiency, economics, and environmental considerations. The current review emphasizes the energy demand, sustainability, and the multitude of biomass feedstocks in biofuel production. The techno-economic insights of the biomass to biofuel conversion strategies were also been assessed distinctively. The importance of physical and chemical pre-treatment techniques has been highlighted for enhanced conversion efficiency. The pre-treatment methods increase biofuel production by 10–30%. Fermentation, anaerobic digestion, and transesterification have been the key areas of concern as it relates to biochemical conversion into a variety of biofuels. The percentage efficiency for biofuel production by biochemical conversion ranges between 90 and 95%. In addition, the challenges faced, environmental applications, and limitations were also been deliberated in the aspects of future directions. [Display omitted] •Potential usage of agricultural waste and algal biomass as sustainable feedstock was reviewed.•Physical and chemical pretreatment of biomass has been emphasized in the review.•Novel aspects in biochemical conversion of residual biomass is described for enhanced biofuel production.•Techno-economic aspect in waste conversion to biofuel has also been deliberated.