Revaluation of coffee crop wastes: Towards a circular economy

Abstract

Nowadays, most of the energy used in the world is generated from the burning of fossil fuels, which is causing a negative impact on the environment. Additionally, the extraction of these fuels is becoming less and more expensive, so it is necessary to use renewable energy sources. One of these sources is biomass, from which energy, electrical and heating, as well as biofuels can be generated. In particular, biofuels can be produced from both cultivable and residual biomass, the latter being of great relevance because it allows solving the pollution problem that those residues represent. In particular, residues from coffee cultivation are abundant,
accounting for two-thirds of the amount of coffee produced. Therefore, this article presents the potential for revaluation of this waste, with special emphasis on its conversion to biofuels.