Food Waste Valorization Based on Anaerobic Digestion

Purpose The rapid urbanization that took place in the last 60 years has led to a dramatic increase in the generation of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW). The biodegradable fraction of MSW mainly consists of food waste (FW) and corresponds to about 50% of the total MSW. The disposal of FW in the environment has become a significant challenge. On the other hand, FW is an excellent substrate for anaerobic digestion (AD). Methods This manuscript reviews the different AD technologies for the treatment of FW. Different types of bioreactors and pretreatment methods used to enhance methane production through AD of FW are discussed. The current review gives special emphasis on the methods for biogas upgrading and on technologies for FW digestate valorization. Results Food waste valorization through anaerobic digestion offers a wide variety of options in all process steps. From the pre-treatment of the feedstock and the selection of the suitable anaerobic digestion technology to the configuration of the process based on the desired products and the valorization of the generated digestate, the design of an integrated anaerobic digestion plant is a challenging task, which necessitates a systematic design. Conclusion A systematic approach is necessary for FW valorization. The simple single-stage AD process leads to underutilization of the feedstock. There are plenty of available technologies that could be combined for the development of an integrated biorefinery that will be optimized in terms of FW valorization towards the production of biofuels and high-added value products, while introducing a circularity in the nutrients contained in the FW. FW-to-biofuel conversion technologies are high Technology Readiness Level (TRL—9) technologies and anaerobic digestion is applied worldwide at commercial scale. Graphic Abstract