Integrated processing of plant-derived waste to produce value-added products based on the biorefinery concept

Publication date: Available online 15 February 2018 Source:Trends in Food Science & Technology Author(s): Qing Jin, Liangcheng Yang, Nicholas Poe, Haibo Huang Background Plant-derived wastes from agriculture, processing, distribution, and retail are generated in large quantities. The majority of the wastes are underutilized and may cause severe environmental problems if not properly handled. The plant-derived wastes are usually rich in lignocellulose and other valuable compounds including protein, fat, sugar, and phytochemicals. Valorization of these compounds in food waste not only reduces environmental concerns but also improves sustainability and economic competitiveness of agro-food industries. Scope and approach This review paper first discussed different phases of the biorefinery concepts and their associated applications, and then introduced recent advances in the integrated processing of plant-derived waste for producing various value-added products. Finally, techno-economic, environmental, and social assessments along with relevant policies were introduced and discussed. Key findings and conclusions During the past ten years, research attentions focused on integrated utilization of plant-derived waste to produce various products have flourished. Compared to production of a single component for food waste valorization, integrated processing of food waste via a combination of different novel technologies to produce multiple products based on a biorefine...
Source: Trends in Food Science and Technology - Category: Food Science Source Type: research