The role of green chemistry in the transformation of agro-industrial wastes for health and environment: a review.
Garg MC, Kumari S, Nguyen MK, Daudu BO, Thapa S
Composting
Crop residues from farms near you are often burned in open fields, sending smoke and greenhouse gases into the air you breathe—green chemistry offers a way to turn that waste into compost amendments, biofuels, and soil-safe chemicals instead.
Every year, farms produce enormous amounts of leftover material—stalks, husks, peels—that often get burned or dumped, causing pollution. Scientists are now finding ways to use these plant leftovers as raw ingredients for making useful things like cleaner fuels and natural chemicals, using gentler processes that don't create toxic byproducts. This review maps out the most promising techniques and honestly addresses what's still too expensive or complicated to scale up.
Key Findings
India alone generates approximately 350 million metric tons of agro-industrial waste annually, much of which is openly burned, contributing significantly to greenhouse gas emissions.
Emerging technologies—including nanotechnology-based catalysts, ionic liquids, deep eutectic solvents, and supercritical fluids—show strong potential for converting agricultural waste into value-added chemicals and fuels with lower environmental impact.
Integrated biorefinery models using circular economy principles are identified as the most viable path forward, though scalability, economic competitiveness, and regulatory barriers remain significant challenges.
chevron_right Technical Summary
This review explores how green chemistry principles can turn the massive amounts of agricultural waste generated in India—about 350 million metric tons per year—into useful products like fuels, chemicals, and materials, while reducing pollution and environmental damage.
Abstract Preview
Green chemistry is defined as a set of principles that reduce or prevent the use or generation of hazardous substances during the design, production, and utilization of chemical products. The visio...
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