Agro-waste Valorization and Production of Bioethanol

Global energy demand is increasing every year. This rapid increase in energy demands, rising oil prices, deteriorating environmental conditions, and declining fossil fuel reserves demand alternative, sustainable, economically viable, and eco-friendly energy sources. While solar, wind, and water sources are utilized to generate electricity, crude oil sources are being substituted with bioethanol and bio-hydrogen production. While biohydrogen is still in the research and development phase, much work has been done on bioethanol production, with many countries already utilizing 1G bioethanol technology at an industrial scale. The development of 2G and 3G technology utilizing various wastes as raw materials for biofuels is at the center of focus, as successful implementation of these technologies will help us reduce our dependence on fossil fuels to a large extent. Proper utilization of agro and vegetable wastes requires valorization. Most of these products are composed of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, intricately designed in complex mesh-like structures that require pretreatment. The majority of the work is currently focused on optimizing these pretreatment techniques so that a higher amount of final product can be obtained. The current chapter contains various types of wastes that could be utilized for 2G bioethanol production. Its utilization and the current initiatives taken by governments worldwide have been discussed in brief.