IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v17y2024i15p3797-d1448222.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Review of Organic Waste-to-Energy (OWtE) Technologies as a Part of a Sustainable Circular Economy

Author

Listed:
  • Svetlana Zueva

    (Department of Industrial and Information Engineering and Economics (DIIIE), University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy)

  • Francesco Ferella

    (Department of Industrial and Information Engineering and Economics (DIIIE), University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy)

  • Valentina Corradini

    (Department of Industrial and Information Engineering and Economics (DIIIE), University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy)

  • Francesco Vegliò

    (Department of Industrial and Information Engineering and Economics (DIIIE), University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy)

Abstract

Organic waste-to-energy (OWtE) technologies are playing a steadily increasing role in the Green Transition, thus becoming a powerful driver in the establishment of an ever more efficient and sustainable circular economy. The advantages of OWtE processes are well known: not only do they reduce the waste volumes sent to landfills or incineration plants, but also and foremost, through the energy they yield (biogenic carbon dioxide, amongst others), they reduce dependance on fossil fuels. This article gives a complete panorama of these technologies, starting from the classical methods and ending with a review of the latest modern novelties. Advantages and disadvantages of each method are highlighted, with particular focus on the formation of by-products and the relevant treatment aimed at preventing environmental pollution. Accordingly, modern techniques for increasing waste-to-energy efficiency and integrating the concept of circular economy and substitutability are analyzed from this perspective. Along with an analysis of modern scientific achievements in this area, practical examples of the implementation of technologies in European countries are given, with an emphasis on the obvious advantages, both economic and environmental.

Suggested Citation

  • Svetlana Zueva & Francesco Ferella & Valentina Corradini & Francesco Vegliò, 2024. "Review of Organic Waste-to-Energy (OWtE) Technologies as a Part of a Sustainable Circular Economy," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-26, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:17:y:2024:i:15:p:3797-:d:1448222
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/15/3797/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/15/3797/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Al-Rumaihi, Aisha & Shahbaz, Muhammad & Mckay, Gordon & Mackey, Hamish & Al-Ansari, Tareq, 2022. "A review of pyrolysis technologies and feedstock: A blending approach for plastic and biomass towards optimum biochar yield," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    2. Ren, Xueyong & Shanb Ghazani, Mohammad & Zhu, Hui & Ao, Wenya & Zhang, Han & Moreside, Emma & Zhu, Jinjiao & Yang, Pu & Zhong, Na & Bi, Xiaotao, 2022. "Challenges and opportunities in microwave-assisted catalytic pyrolysis of biomass: A review," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 315(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Bartłomiej Igliński & Wojciech Kujawski & Urszula Kiełkowska, 2023. "Pyrolysis of Waste Biomass: Technical and Process Achievements, and Future Development—A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-26, February.
    2. Nawaz, Ahmad & Razzak, Shaikh Abdur, 2024. "Co-pyrolysis of biomass and different plastic waste to reduce hazardous waste and subsequent production of energy products: A review on advancement, synergies, and future prospects," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 224(C).
    3. Wang, Jia & Wen, Mengyuan & Ren, Jurong & La, Xinru & Meng, Xianzhi & Yuan, Xiangzhou & Ragauskas, Arthur J. & Jiang, Jianchun, 2024. "Tailoring microwave frequencies for high-efficiency hydrogen production from biomass," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 297(C).
    4. Junshen Qu & Daiying Wang & Zeyu Deng & Hejie Yu & Jianjun Dai & Xiaotao Bi, 2023. "Biochar Prepared by Microwave-Assisted Co-Pyrolysis of Sewage Sludge and Cotton Stalk: A Potential Soil Conditioner," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-18, April.
    5. Li, Chao & Li, Yuannian & Jiang, Yuchen & Zhang, Lijun & Zhang, Shu & Ding, Kuan & Li, Bin & Wang, Shuang & Hu, Xun, 2023. "Staged pyrolysis of biomass to probe the evolution of fractions of bio-oil," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PD).
    6. Priyanka & Isobel E. Wood & Amthal Al-Gailani & Ben W. Kolosz & Kin Wai Cheah & Devika Vashisht & Surinder K. Mehta & Martin J. Taylor, 2024. "Cleaning Up Metal Contamination after Decades of Energy Production and Manufacturing: Reviewing the Value in Use of Biochars for a Sustainable Future," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-44, October.
    7. Shuai Zhang & Haibo Hu & Xiangdong Jia & Xia Wang & Jianyu Chen & Can Cheng & Xichuan Jia & Zhaoming Wu & Li Zhu, 2022. "How Biochar Derived from Pond Cypress ( Taxodium Ascendens ) Evolved with Pyrolysis Temperature and Time and Their End Efficacy Evaluation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-16, September.
    8. Paul Palmay & Diego Barzallo & Cesar Puente & Ricardo Robalino & Dayana Quinaluisa & Joan Carles Bruno, 2024. "Influence of γ-Fe 2 O 3 Nanoparticles Added to Gasoline–Bio-Oil Blends Derived from Plastic Waste on Combustion and Emissions Generated in a Gasoline Engine," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-13, June.
    9. Luo, Juan & Ma, Rui & Lin, Junhao & Sun, Shichang & Gong, Guojin & Sun, Jiaman & Chen, Yi & Ma, Ning, 2023. "Review of microwave pyrolysis of sludge to produce high quality biogas: Multi-perspectives process optimization and critical issues proposal," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    10. Ricardo de C. Bittencourt & Tiago Guimarães & Marcelo M. da Costa & Larissa S. Silva & Verônica O. de P. Barbosa & Stéphani Caroline de L. Arêdes & Krisnna S. Alves & Ana Márcia M. L. Carvalho, 2024. "Production of High-Value Green Chemicals via Catalytic Fast Pyrolysis of Eucalyptus urograndis Forest Residues," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-14, September.
    11. Sofia Lucero Saucedo & Anthony Lau, 2024. "Anaerobic Digestion of Food Waste with the Addition of Biochar Derived from Microwave Catalytic Pyrolysis of Solid Digestate," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-14, September.
    12. Matteo Prussi, 2024. "Applying the International Maritime Organisation Life Cycle Assessment Guidelines to Pyrolysis Oil-Derived Blends: A Sustainable Option for Marine Fuels," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-17, October.
    13. German Smetana & Anna Grosser, 2023. "The Oxygenic Photogranules—Current Progress on the Technology and Perspectives in Wastewater Treatment: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-17, January.
    14. Carvalho, Pollyana R. & Medeiros, Samuel L.S. & Paixão, Raul L. & Figueredo, Igor M. & Mattos, Adriano L.A. & Rios, M. Alexsandra S., 2023. "Thermogravimetric pyrolysis of residual biomasses obtained post-extraction of carnauba wax: Determination of kinetic parameters using Friedman's isoconversional method," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 207(C), pages 703-713.
    15. Choi, Dongho & Kim, Minyoung & Kim, Jee Young & Tsang, Yiu Fai & Jeong, Sanghyun & Kwon, Eilhann E., 2024. "Thermo-chemical processes for the sustainable utilization of oil-bearing biomass: A case study on apricot seed valorization," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 302(C).
    16. Mousavi-Avval, Seyed Hashem & Sahoo, Kamalakanta & Nepal, Prakash & Runge, Troy & Bergman, Richard, 2023. "Environmental impacts and techno-economic assessments of biobased products: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 180(C).
    17. José Pereira & Reinaldo Souza & Jeferson Oliveira & Ana Moita, 2024. "Hydrogen Production, Transporting and Storage Processes—A Brief Review," Clean Technol., MDPI, vol. 6(3), pages 1-54, September.
    18. Li, Boyu & Fan, Xing & Yu, Senshen & Xia, Hongying & Nong, Yonghong & Bian, Junping & Sun, Mingyu & Zi, Wenhua, 2023. "Microwave heating of biomass waste residues for sustainable bioenergy and biomass materials preparation: A parametric simulation study," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 274(C).
    19. Mohamad Aziz, Nur Atiqah & Mohamed, Hassan & Kania, Dina & Ong, Hwai Chyuan & Zainal, Bidattul Syirat & Junoh, Hazlina & Ker, Pin Jern & Silitonga, A.S., 2024. "Bioenergy production by integrated microwave-assisted torrefaction and pyrolysis," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    20. Hamed, A.S.A. & Yusof, N.I.F.M. & Yahya, M.S. & Cardozo, E. & Munajat, N.F., 2023. "Concentrated solar pyrolysis for oil palm biomass: An exploratory review within the Malaysian context," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:17:y:2024:i:15:p:3797-:d:1448222. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.