Harnessing energy from food waste via anaerobic digestion: A comprehensive review

Abstract

• Elucidating the anaerobic digestion mechanisms for food-waste valorization • Evaluation of pre-treatments enhancing biodegradability and methane yield • Identification of key factors influencing digestion efficiency and stability • Discussion of challenges and future pathways for AD advancement The escalating global volume of food waste poses significant environmental challenges but also represents a substantial opportunity for sustainable energy generation. Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a leading technology that converts this waste into biogas, offering a dual solution for renewable energy production and waste management. This comprehensive review delves into the application of AD for food waste, providing an in-depth analysis of the underlying biochemical processes and critical operational parameters that govern biogas yield such as; temperature, pH, and organic loading rate. It further explores a range of physical, chemical, and biological pre-treatment methods to enhance the efficiency of waste breakdown. The review further investigates recent advancements, including innovative reactor designs, co-digestion strategies, and process optimization techniques, all aimed at improving system performance and scalability. While addressing key challenges like feedstock variability, process instability, and inhibition, the review proposes practical mitigation strategies. Finally, it evaluates the environmental and economic viability of AD, discussing its integral role in circular economy frameworks by transforming waste into valuable resources. This synthesis aims to guide future research and accelerate the adoption of anaerobic digestion as a cornerstone technology for sustainable waste-to-energy conversion.