Intensification and biorefinery approaches for the valorization of kitchen wastes – A review

• Published in: Bioresource technology 2022-09, Vol.360, p.127652-127652, Article 127652
• Main Authors: Esteban-Lustres, Rebeca, Torres, María Dolores, Piñeiro, Beatriz, Enjamio, Cristina, Domínguez, Herminia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biorefinery; Household; Intensification; Kitchen wastes; Valorization
• ISSN: 0960-8524; 1873-2976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2022.127652

•Kitchen wastes (KW) management can be improved through flexible processes & new technologies.•Sequential fractionation & valorization of KW within biorefinery approach is encouraged.•Enhanced efficiency through process intensification can be an attractive alternative.•New models of regulation and governance are required to promote resource recovery. Kitchen wastes (KW) are post-consumption residues from household and food service sector, heterogenous in composition and highly variable depending on the particular origin, which are often treated as municipal. There is a need to improve the management of these continuously produced and worldwidely available resources and their valorization into novel and commercially interesting products will aid in the development of bioeconomy. The successful implementation of such approach requires cooperation between academia, industrial stakeholders, public and private institutions, based on the different dimensions, including social, economic, ecologic and technological involved. This review aims at presenting a survey of technological aspects, regarding current and potential management strategies of KW, following either a single or multiproduct processing according to the biorefineries scheme. Emphasis is given to intensification tools, designed to enhance process efficiency.