Spent coffee grounds based circular bioeconomy: Technoeconomic and commercialization aspects

Abstract Coffee consumption produces enormous amount of spent coffee grounds (SCG), a material that contain plenty of lipids, polyphenols, carbohydrates, proteins, and various other components. Valorisation of SCG is a contour for sustainable value added product recovery with greater attention in determining economic and ecological tasks. The integrated biorefinery approach in valorisation brings more valuable products meanwhile reduces the residue waste formation which enhance the environment and economy. The primary techno-economic and life cycle assessment of SCG biorefinery were discussed as compared to the single phase biorefinery under its operating condition for small scale collection of SCG. This review explains the various SCG biorefinery routes and its effective bioconversion, different value added products recovery and profitable integration approaches. For instance, extraction of fatty acids and carbohydrates with subsequent conversion of by products into bioenergy, biofuel and biochemicals in circular economy loop has profitable potencies. Besides, the various biorefinery strategies to expose the possibilities of SCG for deriving multiple products and its impact on economics were highlighted. The sustainable biorefinery for SCG valorisation were developed by applying the principles of circular bioeconomy. The future SCG biorefinery perspective shows that the higher valued bioactive compounds production and bioenergy production to industrial scale to achieve higher economic viability. The outcome of this review reveals that SCG is an excellent raw material for a variety of industrial integrated biotechnological approaches, reduces the cost associated with of raw materials, saves the landfill and promotes the bioeconomy.