Environmental impact assessment of wastewater based biorefinery for the recovery of energy and valuable bio-based chemicals in a circular bioeconomy

Abstract Ever-growing human population, their need for food, energy, and water along with various deadly pollutants are the major threat to the mankind. Hence, there is a need to develop sustainable technologies to provide constant supply of food and energy to enable a circular economy. Wastes in developing countries, if properly managed, can be potential source of energy, recycled materials, and revenue. For waste treatment, technologies such as fermentation, anaerobic digestion (AD), pyrolysis, incineration, and gasification can be used. However, selection of the right technology and proper process will depend on the type of waste, it’s generation, and the desired economy of scale. Hence, there is a need to develop an integrated biorefinery approach so that the waste can be treated to recover energy, produce various value-added products, and reduce greenhouse gases for a sustainable environment. Global availability of freshwater is reducing alarmingly. Majority of the freshwater is used for human consumption and, to a great extent, for industry and agriculture. However, all such anthropogenic activities lead to the generation of wastewater in large quantities that need to be recycled effectively to reduce dependence on freshwater. Biorefineries based on wastewater can play a great role as has been recorded in different parts of the world. This will generate closing the gap in water cycle, recovery of energy and valuable biochemicals, new business opportunities, reduction in greenhouse gases, saving natural resources which eventually will lead to development of a sustainable industrial ecosystem, and establishment of a circular bioeconomy.