From Waste to Bioenergy: A Comprehensive Review on Pineapple Waste Valorization for Biohydrogen Production

Abstract

Renewable energy plays a crucial role in reducing reliance on fossil fuels. Among various renewable sources, bioenergy is gaining attention as a key component of sustainable energy development. Second-generation bioenergy can be produced from waste materials generated by various sectors, including agricultural waste. One such example is pineapple waste, the generation of which has been increasing due to the rising demand for pineapple fruit. Current disposal methods, such as burning and landfilling, pose serious environmental concerns. Therefore, valorizing pineapple waste into value-added products offers a more sustainable waste management strategy.

Pineapple waste is rich in sugars and contains a significant amount of lignocellulosic material, making it a promising feedstock for biohydrogen production. Pretreatment is required to break down the complex lignocellulosic structure to make the sugars more accessible for microbial fermentation. The use of microorganisms, whether in pure cultures, co-cultures, or mixed cultures, has been shown to enhance biohydrogen yields. Optimization of process parameters is essential to maximize production, and response surface methodology (RSM) is a widely used statistical tool for this purpose. RSM can be effectively applied to optimize biohydrogen production using pineapple waste as a substrate. In conclusion, pineapple waste provides the feasible substrate source for biohydrogen production, in addition to the other agriculture-based wastes. There is currently limited information about different reactor optimizations and life cycle assessment for biohydrogen production using pineapple waste as substrate, presenting the research gap that needs to be addressed in the future.