Rameshpathy Manian

Microalgae have become essential because of their rapid development and photosynthetic efficiency. They may have valuable metabolites, like lipids and carbohydrates, and that is why they are used a...

Floral wastes comprise a significant portion of agro-wastes generated, globally, this waste originates from various ornamental, ceremonial, and religious practices. It poses a great threat to the environment – as most of it is dumped in landfills and nearby water bodies, causing greenhouse gas emissions and pollution. The wasted flowers not only represent an overlooked reserve of highly fermentable sugar content, but also can bridge the gap between the global efforts of sustainable energy production and waste reduction. Floral wastes have currently emerged to be a promising source of renewable fuel, and recent advances in anaerobic fermentation techniques are providing a boost to such unconventional feedstock alternatives. This review analyses trends observed in the production of biofuel from floral biomass—a niche yet highly critical source of lignocellulosic compounds that can be capitalized if tapped efficiently. Here, we quantify the contribution of floral residues within the total generated agro‐waste, and analyse their organic composition, while evaluating their respective energy yields compared to traditional substrates. In this article, we present an overview of the current literature on the complete process chain from pre-treatment, enzymatic hydrolysis, fermentation, and distillation, focusing on established protocols and novel approaches that mitigate the principal issues such as high moisture content, seasonal variability, and the occurrence of inhibitory compounds. According to comparative studies of some flower species (such as marigold, hibiscus and rose), they have higher conversion efficiency due to better sugar content, while others may have poorer yields. They are also seeking to advance, not to mention technology, to facilitate efficiency, and reduce costs.