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Circular Economy Synergistic Opportunities of Decentralized Thermochemical Systems for Bioenergy and Biochar Production Fueled with Agro-industrial Wastes with Environmental Sustainability and Social Acceptance: a Review

  • Biomass and Biofuels (P Fokaides, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

This paper aims to shed light on the role of decentralized gasification and pyrolysis units for bioenergy and biochar production fueled with agro-industrial wastes with environmental sustainability and social acceptance in the transition to circular economy.

Recent Findings

The decentralized gasification and pyrolysis systems can offer local energy production without affecting local food security, providing an income for producers and management options of the agro-industrial sector wastes. Carbon sequestration and soil quality improvement coupled with bioenergy generation can be achieved. Closed-loop models of decentralized pyrolysis-based biochar units are new opportunities.

Summary

Decentralized gasification-based units for combined heat and power and pyrolysis for biochar is a rapidly deployable and efficient way to meet energy demands by using local biomass, avoiding transportation costs, creating business and employment in rural areas, improving resource efficiency, closing loops of nutrients, and providing synergistic opportunities for many sectors such as agro-industry, bioenergy, and waste management sectors, in the transition to circular economy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Un. Box 455, University Campus GR, 541 24, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Despoina Fytili & Anastasia Zabaniotou

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  1. Despoina Fytili
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  2. Anastasia Zabaniotou
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Correspondence to Anastasia Zabaniotou.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Biomass and Biofuels

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Fytili, D., Zabaniotou, A. Circular Economy Synergistic Opportunities of Decentralized Thermochemical Systems for Bioenergy and Biochar Production Fueled with Agro-industrial Wastes with Environmental Sustainability and Social Acceptance: a Review. Curr Sustainable Renewable Energy Rep 5, 150–155 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40518-018-0109-5

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