Exploring biorefinery alternatives for biowaste valorization: a techno-economic assessment of enzymatic hydrolysis coupled with anaerobic digestion or solid-state fermentation for high-value bioproducts

Abstract

Enzymatic hydrolysis of organic waste is gaining relevance as a complementary technology to conventional biological treatments. Moreover, biorefineries are emerging as a sustainable scenario to integrate waste valorization and high-value bioproducts production. However, their application on municipal solid waste is still limited. This study systematically evaluates the techno-economic feasibility of the conversion of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) into high-value bioproducts through enzymatic hydrolysis. Two key variables are examined: (a) the source of the enzymes: commercial or on-site produced using OFMSW, and (b) the treatment of the solid hydrolyzate fraction: solid-state fermentation (SSF) for the production of biopesticides or anaerobic digestion for the production of energy. As a result, four different biorefinery scenarios are generated and compared in terms of profitability. Results showed that the most profitable scenario was to produce enzymes on-site and valorize the solid fraction via SSF, with an internal rate of return of 13%. This scenario led to higher profit margins (74%) and a reduced payback time (6 years), in contrast with commercial enzymes that led to an unprofitable biorefinery. Also, the simultaneous production of higher-value bioproducts and energy reduced the economic dependence of OFMSW treatment on policy instruments while remaining energetically self-sufficient. The profitability of the biorefinery scenarios evaluated was heavily dependent on the enzyme price and the efficiency of the anaerobic digestion process, highlighting the importance of cost-efficient enzyme production alternatives and high-quality OFMSW. This paper contributes to understanding the potential role of enzymes in future OFMSW biorefineries and offers economical insights on different configurations.

A Perspective of Solid-State Fermentation As Emergent Technology for Organic Waste Management in the Framework of Circular Bioeconomy

“…Considering that SSF is, from the practical point of view, a strategy to take profit from organic waste as raw material for the obtention of bioproducts of interest, it is quite evident that it is a suitable technology to be integrated in more complex facilities, especially those related to the treatment and valorization of largely-produced effluents such as organic solid waste and wastewater . However, in this case, SSF is not only a complementary technology, but also another process step, which results in an increase of the complexity of existing plants , to be transformed into biorefineries . Biorefineries can be defined as industrial facilities that convert biomass into energy, chemicals, and materials .…”