Journal of Fundamentals of Renewable Energy and Applications
Open Access

Insect-based biorefinery for converting waste biomass into energy and protein

Euro-Global Summit and Expo on Biomass

August 08-09, 2016 Birmingham, UK

Longyu Zheng

Huazhong Agricultural University, P R China

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Fundam Renewable Energy Appl

Abstract :

Fossil fuel depletion and environmental degradation are twin crises confronted by all mankind. Thus, considerable amount of studies have been promoted to develop clean and renewable alternative energies, achieving a harmonious, balanced and sustainable development. In this context, bioconversion of waste biomass has been found to be a good way to recover the hidden energy. Certain insects especially some saprophagous species such as Hermetia illucens, Musca domestica in Diptera and Tenebrio molitor in Coleoptera, can be used to degrade organic waste, including animal manure, food waste, municipal waste, lignocelluloses, and other bio-solids; an economically viable insect biomass rich in fat and protein could be produced and further processed into biodiesel and animal feed. Properties of insect derived biodiesel have been shown comparable to rapeseed biodiesel and other vegetable oil biodiesel. Insect fat could serve as a promising low cost and non-food feedstock for biodiesel. Furthermore, insect-based conversion of waste biomass does not require large land or waster areas when compared to energy crops and other forms of bioenergy materials such as microalgae. A union of insects and microbes could further improve the current artificial mass breeding system of insects, enhance the processing capacity of the waste management system, and increase the final insect biomass yields, making wasteto- energy more feasible.

Biography :

Longyu Zheng has completed his PhD from Huazhong Agricultural University (HZAU), China, in 2012 and did collaborative research on Entomology at Texas A&M University and USDA, USA, during 2009-2010. Currently, he is Associated Professor at HZAU and State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology. His research has been focusing on waste biomass management employing insects and microbes to produce bioenergy, animal feed, microbial fertilizer and other co-products. He has published more than 17 papers in reputed journals.

Email: ly.zheng@mail.hzau.edu.cn