Unveiling the secrets of food waste derived biomaterials in remediation of environmental pollutants - A review

Increasing world population and anthropogenic activities have resulted in the generation of massive quantities of waste, the ineffective management of which poses adverse impact on the ecosystem. Food wastes have emerged as a global problem contributing to the release of greenhouse gases. These wastes can serve as potential bioresources for value-added products like biomaterials which can be used for the remediation of environmental pollutants. However, sustainable technology is needed for transforming the food wastes into biomaterials; which will also solve their disposal issues. This review explores potential food wastes for producing biomaterials, their extraction methods, and application in removing pollutants. Challenges encountered in handling, processing, and large scale production of biomaterials from food wastes and strategy to overcome them has also been discussed. This review will provide a complete guidance for selecting appropriate food waste and the methods of developing biomaterials that can effectively remove the target contaminants in future.