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Emerging pretreatment Technologies for Biomass Valorization via anaerobic digestion: A systematic review and global research trends

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  • Ahmad, Aqueel
  • Yadav, Ashok Kumar
  • Hasan, Shifa

Abstract

Biogas production through anaerobic digestion (AD) is recognized as a sustainable method for energy generation and waste management. However, the complex nature of many substrates can limit hydrolysis efficiency and methane yields, making effective pretreatment necessary. This review systematically examines various pretreatment methods, including physical, chemical, biological, and combined approaches. It highlights the mechanisms, performance, and techno-economic factors related to these pretreatment methods. In addition to the technical review, a bibliometric analysis was conducted using the Scopus database (2010-2025) with the keywords “Biogas Production” and “Pretreatment.” A total of 1609 publications were analyzed using VOSviewer software to map global research trends and identify key authors, leading journals, institutions, and frequently used keywords. The findings shows that China, India, and the United States are the most active contributors, with “Bioresource Technology” identified as the most significant journal. Keyword clustering indicates a growing interest in ultrasonic, microwave, alkaline, enzymatic, and hybrid pretreatments, underscoring their importance in optimizing the AD process. This study suggests that pretreatments can significantly enhance methane yields, sometimes exceeding 100% compared to untreated substrates. Despite these improvements in methane yield, challenges persist regarding scalability, energy balance, and cost-effectiveness. Future research should focus on optimizing pretreatment intensity, integrating pretreatment with process monitoring, and valorizing by-products to enhance the role of AD in sustainable energy systems.

Suggested Citation

  • Ahmad, Aqueel & Yadav, Ashok Kumar & Hasan, Shifa, 2026. "Emerging pretreatment Technologies for Biomass Valorization via anaerobic digestion: A systematic review and global research trends," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 347(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:347:y:2026:i:c:s0360544226005670
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2026.140464
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    References listed on IDEAS

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