Integrated Biorefinery Pathways for Organic Waste Valorisation: A Systematic Literature Review of Biological, Thermochemical, and Anaerobic Digestion Technologies
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56127/juit.v5i2.2866Keywords:
Biorefinery, Waste Valorisation, Circular Bioeconomy, Black Soldier Fly, Hydrothermal CarbonisationAbstract
The increasing generation of organic and lignocellulosic waste has created significant environmental challenges, requiring sustainable and efficient waste management strategies. Biorefinery systems have emerged as a key approach within the circular bioeconomy framework, enabling the conversion of complex waste streams into value-added products such as biofuels, platform chemicals, animal feed, and fertilisers. Objective: This study aims to systematically review recent developments in biorefinery-based waste valorisation technologies and evaluate their environmental and technological performance within a circular bioeconomy perspective. Methods: This research employs a qualitative systematic literature review (SLR) approach. Data were collected from peer-reviewed journal articles indexed in Scopus, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. The analysis was conducted using narrative synthesis and comparative evaluation of biological, thermochemical, and hybrid biorefinery technologies published between 2015 and 2026. Results: The results indicate that Black Soldier Fly (BSF) bioconversion can reduce organic waste mass by approximately 50% while producing high-value protein and lipid products. Hydrothermal Carbonisation (HTC) effectively converts wet biomass into hydrochar at 180–280 °C. Decentralised anaerobic digestion systems show superior environmental performance compared to incineration, particularly in reducing Global Warming Potential (GWP) and Fossil Fuel Depletion Potential (FFP). Lignin valorisation demonstrates strong potential for producing aromatic chemicals, although it remains constrained by feedstock variability and processing challenges. Implications: The findings suggest that integrated biorefinery systems supported by Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) offer a more sustainable pathway for organic waste management compared to single-process technologies. However, scalability, feedstock heterogeneity, and process optimisation remain key challenges for industrial implementation. Originality: The originality of this study lies in its integrated comparative analysis of biological, thermochemical, and hybrid biorefinery technologies within a circular bioeconomy framework, combining environmental performance assessment and technological evaluation to provide a comprehensive perspective for sustainable waste management development.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Stephanus Benedictus Bera Liwun, Nastiti Siswi Indrasti, Suprihatin Suprihatin, Taufik Djatna
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