BIOMASS OF AGRICULTURAL WASTE FOR AGROINDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS OBTAINING: POTENTIALITIES AND CHALLENGES IN ECUADOR

Abstract

Introduction:
Agricultural and agro-industrial residues have great potential to obtain products with high added value, such as biofuels, bioactive compounds, and biopolymers which are used in different industries such as food, cosmetics, industrial and pharmacological. They also contribute to the reduction of environmental pollution since they can be used in effluents treatment, mainly in heavy metals adsorption.
Objective:
To establish the potential of Ecuador agricultural residues to obtain agro-industrial products.
Materials and methods:
The study carried out is approached from a qualitative-documentary and descriptive method, where data on the object of study were collected through a bibliographic and documentary review on the subject, published in databases of known scientific relevance and wide scope quality and timeliness were taken into account.
Results and Discussion:
Various procedures and methodologies for obtaining agro-industrial products were reviewed, different types of residues were identified for each crop under study. Corresponding assessment was carried out in order to establish the potential agroindustrial products that can be obtained from them, according to their chemical composition.
Conclusions:
Bioactive compounds recovery and biofuels generation from agricultural and agroindustrial waste is an alternative to reduce the effects of global pollution, while generating renewable energy and high added value compounds.