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Scalable Step-by-Step Approach of Sustainable Bioplastic Production from Food Waste
Published on: July 18, 2025
Recent Advances in Butyrate Production from Food Waste Fermentation: Key Functional Microbes, Habitat Engineering,
Yuan Li1, Yueji Chen1, Zonghai Du1
1School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University of Engineering Science, Shanghai 201620, China.
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
|May 28, 2026
Summary
Converting global food waste into valuable butyrate via anaerobic fermentation is key for a circular economy. This review details microbial communities and challenges for efficient biomanufacturing.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology and Bioengineering
- Environmental Science
- Microbiology
Background:
- Global food waste (FW) presents a significant environmental challenge.
- Efficient conversion of FW into high-value chemicals like butyrate is crucial for a circular economy.
- Butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid, has diverse applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review research on butyrate production from FW using anaerobic fermentation.
- To provide a comprehensive overview of core butyrate-producing microbial communities.
- To identify challenges and opportunities for industrial implementation.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature review of anaerobic fermentation processes for butyrate production from FW.
- Analysis of microbial communities involved in butyrate synthesis.
- Identification of technological and economic barriers to industrial scale-up.
Main Results:
- Significant advancements have been made in butyrate production from FW.
- Key microbial communities and their roles in butyrate fermentation are identified.
- Challenges include improving butyrate yield and selectivity, understanding microbial interactions, and reducing separation costs.
Conclusions:
- Further research is needed to overcome industrial implementation barriers.
- Optimizing microbial communities and fermentation conditions is essential.
- This review provides theoretical support for FW valorization and green butyrate biomanufacturing.
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