Bioplastic

Biodegradable waste

Engineering

Ecology

Biotechnology

Biology

Biogas

Biohydrogen

Food science

Waste management

Banana peel

Hydrogen

Greenhouse gas

Organic chemistry

Biofuel

Biomass (ecology)

Agronomy

Environmental science

Chemistry

Hydrogen production

Pulp and paper industry

Molecules

Banana is a fruit grown mainly in tropical countries of the world. After harvest, almost 60% of banana biomass is left as waste. Worldwide, about 114.08 million metric tons of banana waste-loss are produced, leading to environmental problems such as the excessive emission of greenhouse gases. These wastes contain a high content of paramount industrial importance, such as cellulose, hemicellulose and natural fibers that various processes can modify, such as bacterial fermentation and anaerobic degradation, to obtain bioplastics, organic fertilizers and biofuels such as ethanol, biogas, hydrogen and biodiesel. In addition, they can be used in wastewater treatment methods by producing low-cost biofilters and obtaining activated carbon from rachis and banana peel. Furthermore, nanometric fibers commonly used in nanotechnology applications and silver nanoparticles useful in therapeutic cancer treatments, can be produced from banana pseudostems. The review aims to demonstrate the contribution of the recovery of banana production waste-loss towards a circular economy that would boost the economy of Latin America and many other countries of emerging economies.

Recovery of Banana Waste-Loss from Production and Processing: A Contribution to a Circular Economy