Gamma Radiation-Based Technologies for Waste Biomass Valorization: Mechanism, Instrument Design, Recent Technical Advances, Limitations, and Future Aspect

Waste valorization involves converting waste residue into valuable products like chemicals, materials, and biofuels, capitalizing on untapped polymeric substances within the residual waste. This concept is vital in addressing rapid natural resource depletion, driving the need for sustainable waste management and renewable energy sources. Biomass waste transformation, encompassing steps such as generation, pretreatment, hydrolysis, and fermentation, plays a pivotal role in this process. Effective pretreatment technology selection is critical, given its substantial impact on production costs. Enzyme and chemical-based pretreatment methods produce toxic chemical waste. In contrast, radiation pretreatment, particularly alpha and gamma irradiation, offers eco-friendly alternatives for biomass pretreatment, presenting a promising solution to this issue. Previous research indicates that gamma irradiation enhances fruit smoothness and promotes the formation of secondary metabolites through stress-related reactions. The potential of gamma irradiation to alter the composition of lignocellulosic biomass underscores its significance for future adoption. This overview discusses gamma irradiation pretreatment technologies and their mechanisms, providing insights into their role in enhancing lignocellulosic biomass pretreatment for diverse product formations.