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Sustainability
Volume 17
Issue 2
10.3390/su17020499
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Review

Enhancing Economic and Environmental Sustainability in Lignocellulosic Bioethanol Production: Key Factors, Innovative Technologies, Policy Frameworks, and Social Considerations

by
Alfred Elikem Kwami Afedzi
1,2,
Getrude Shallom Afrakomah
1,2,
Kwame Gyan
1,2,
Jamil Khan
1,2,
Ramatu Seidu
3,
Theophilus Baidoo
4,
Imrana Niaz Sultan
5,
Afrasiab Khan Tareen
5,* and
Pramuk Parakulsuksatid
1,2,*
1
Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Agro-Industry, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan Rd, Ladyao, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
2
Fermentation Technology Research Center, Faculty of Agro-Industry, Kasetsart University, 50 Ngamwongwan Rd, Ladyao, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
3
Department of Chemistry, University of Bari, Aldo Moro, Via E. Orabona, 70126 Bari, Italy
4
Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi AK-448-6434, Ghana
5
Department of Biotechnology, Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences, Quetta 87300, Pakistan
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Sustainability 2025, 17(2), 499; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17020499
Submission received: 29 October 2024 / Revised: 17 December 2024 / Accepted: 24 December 2024 / Published: 10 January 2025
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Abstract

Lignocellulosic bioethanol is a promising renewable energy source that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve energy security. However, its commercialization faces significant economic and environmental challenges, including high feedstock costs, complex pretreatment processes, expensive enzyme formulations, and substantial energy and water requirements. This review examines the key factors affecting its viability, including feedstock costs, enzyme efficiency, co-product generation, greenhouse gas emissions, water use, energy efficiency, and land use impacts. Recent advancements in pretreatment technologies, enzyme recycling, genetically engineered microbial strains, and fermentation strategies are discussed for their potential to improve process efficiency and reduce production costs. This review also explores co-product valorization, including lignin and biogas utilization, which can enhance the economic sustainability of bioethanol production by generating additional revenue streams, offsetting operational costs, and improving overall process efficiency. Identifying research gaps, it highlights the need for cost-effective feedstock supply chains, advanced enzyme technologies, and optimized fermentation methods. Additionally, the role of life cycle assessments and government policies, including subsidies, is considered in shaping production costs and the environmental impact. By integrating economic and environmental perspectives, this review provides insights into advancing the sustainable production of lignocellulosic bioethanol, emphasizing the importance of continued innovation to overcome existing challenges.
Keywords: lignocellulosic bioethanol; environmental sustainability; feedstock optimization; enzyme hydrolysis and fermentation; economic impact; life cycle assessment lignocellulosic bioethanol; environmental sustainability; feedstock optimization; enzyme hydrolysis and fermentation; economic impact; life cycle assessment

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MDPI and ACS Style

Afedzi, A.E.K.; Afrakomah, G.S.; Gyan, K.; Khan, J.; Seidu, R.; Baidoo, T.; Sultan, I.N.; Tareen, A.K.; Parakulsuksatid, P. Enhancing Economic and Environmental Sustainability in Lignocellulosic Bioethanol Production: Key Factors, Innovative Technologies, Policy Frameworks, and Social Considerations. Sustainability 2025, 17, 499. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17020499

AMA Style

Afedzi AEK, Afrakomah GS, Gyan K, Khan J, Seidu R, Baidoo T, Sultan IN, Tareen AK, Parakulsuksatid P. Enhancing Economic and Environmental Sustainability in Lignocellulosic Bioethanol Production: Key Factors, Innovative Technologies, Policy Frameworks, and Social Considerations. Sustainability. 2025; 17(2):499. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17020499

Chicago/Turabian Style

Afedzi, Alfred Elikem Kwami, Getrude Shallom Afrakomah, Kwame Gyan, Jamil Khan, Ramatu Seidu, Theophilus Baidoo, Imrana Niaz Sultan, Afrasiab Khan Tareen, and Pramuk Parakulsuksatid. 2025. "Enhancing Economic and Environmental Sustainability in Lignocellulosic Bioethanol Production: Key Factors, Innovative Technologies, Policy Frameworks, and Social Considerations" Sustainability 17, no. 2: 499. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17020499

APA Style

Afedzi, A. E. K., Afrakomah, G. S., Gyan, K., Khan, J., Seidu, R., Baidoo, T., Sultan, I. N., Tareen, A. K., & Parakulsuksatid, P. (2025). Enhancing Economic and Environmental Sustainability in Lignocellulosic Bioethanol Production: Key Factors, Innovative Technologies, Policy Frameworks, and Social Considerations. Sustainability, 17(2), 499. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17020499

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