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Novel Insights into Agro-Industrial Waste: Exploring Techno-Economic Viability as an Alternative Source of Water Recovery

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Listed:
  • Christian I. Cano-Gómez

    (Facultad de Estudios Profesionales Zona Huasteca, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Ciudad Valles 79080, San Luis Potosi, Mexico)

  • Cynthia Wong-Arguelles

    (Instituto Tecnológico de Cd. Valles, Tecnológico Nacional de México, Ciudad Valles 79010, San Luis Potosi, Mexico)

  • Jessica Ivonne Hinojosa-López

    (Facultad de Estudios Profesionales Zona Huasteca, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Ciudad Valles 79080, San Luis Potosi, Mexico)

  • Diana B. Muñiz-Márquez

    (Facultad de Estudios Profesionales Zona Huasteca, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Ciudad Valles 79080, San Luis Potosi, Mexico)

  • Jorge E. Wong-Paz

    (Facultad de Estudios Profesionales Zona Huasteca, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Ciudad Valles 79080, San Luis Potosi, Mexico)

Abstract

The growing challenges of freshwater scarcity and the high generation of agro-industrial waste, particularly from fruit and vegetable (F&V) processing, pose significant threats to the sustainability of global food systems. F&V waste, which represents a major portion of the 1.3 billion tons of annual food waste, is characterized by a high moisture content (80–95%), making it a largely overlooked but promising source of water recovery. This review critically assesses the techno-economic and environmental feasibility of extracting water from moisture-rich agro-industrial waste streams. Potential technologies such as solar distillation and membrane separation are evaluated to determine their capacity to treat complex organic effluents and recover high-quality water. The potential end uses of reclaimed water in all sectors are explored, focusing on agricultural irrigation, fertigation, industrial reuse and environmental restoration. This study addresses a key research gap and proposes the reclassification of agro-industrial waste as a viable water resource aligned with circular bioeconomy principles and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 6 and 12.

Suggested Citation

  • Christian I. Cano-Gómez & Cynthia Wong-Arguelles & Jessica Ivonne Hinojosa-López & Diana B. Muñiz-Márquez & Jorge E. Wong-Paz, 2025. "Novel Insights into Agro-Industrial Waste: Exploring Techno-Economic Viability as an Alternative Source of Water Recovery," Waste, MDPI, vol. 3(2), pages 1-22, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jwaste:v:3:y:2025:i:2:p:15-:d:1656381
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Carolina Fredes & Francisco García & María Ignacia Pérez & Rodrigo Fernández-Verdejo, 2020. "Exploring Fruit and Vegetable Waste in Homeless Shelters that Receive Surplus Donation from a Wholesale Market in Chile," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-16, October.
    2. Jing Zhao & Hong Li & Chao Chen & Yiyuan Pang & Xiaoqing Zhu, 2022. "Detection of Water Content in Lettuce Canopies Based on Hyperspectral Imaging Technology under Outdoor Conditions," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-21, October.
    3. Doriana Eurosia Angela Tedesco & Sveva Scarioni & Aldo Tava & Sara Panseri & Antonio Zuorro, 2021. "Fruit and Vegetable Wholesale Market Waste: Safety and Nutritional Characterisation for Their Potential Re-Use in Livestock Nutrition," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-12, August.
    4. Hristov, Jordan & Barreiro-Hurle, Jesus & Salputra, Guna & Blanco, Maria & Witzke, Peter, 2021. "Reuse of treated water in European agriculture: Potential to address water scarcity under climate change," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 251(C).
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