New environmentally friendly processes for the production of renewable energy from agro-industrial waste

The search for alternative energy sources for the development of sustainable fuels is an environmental and economic priority. Lignocellulosic biomasses are an attractive feedstock for producing liquid fuels and chemicals since they are the most abundant source of carbohydrates on Earth, they are renewable and not in competition with food sources. Moreover, such biomasses contain high amount of bioactive compounds provided with antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiviral or anticancer activities (essential oils, polyphenols, vitamins and prebiotics) useful for applications in pharmaceutical, cosmetical and agro-food fields. As consequence, the exploitation of these feedstocks is expected to produce innovative enzymatic and microbiological processes leading to new bioactive compounds and biofuels. Energy supply plays an important role in the modern world. Production of ethanol from renewable lignocellulosic sources, such as the agricultural residues, is a promising mean to decrease the accumulation of greenhouse gas and alleviate pressure on fossil fuel inevitable depletion.