Work

Energy Recovery from Pistachio-Derived Wastes: A Critical Systematic Review of Conversion Pathways, Energy Performance, Environmental Impacts, and Techno-Economic Feasibility

Year: 2026

Type: review

Abstract: Pistachio processing and disposal generate large quantities of shells, hulls, residues, rejected products, and high-strength wastewater that remain underutilized despite their renewable energy potential. This systematic review assessed energy-recovery technologies for pistachio-derived wastes by evaluating technical performance, environmental impacts, techno-economic feasibility, and research maturity. Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and Embase were searched for studies published from 2010 to 5 July 2026. From 404 identified records, 54 eligible studies were included after screening and study-family clustering. Thermochemical pathways, especially pyrolysis and gasification, represented the dominant evidence base. Pyrolysis produced 48–53% liquid products, with char heating values reaching approximately 33.5 MJ kg⁻¹, while gasification generated 1.37–2.62 m³ kg⁻¹ producer gas and achieved diesel substitution up to 46.7%. Anaerobic digestion showed strong potential for wet residues and wastewater, producing methane yields of 40–415.4 mL CH₄ g⁻¹ VS. Other pathways, including combustion, densification, hydrothermal processing, liquefaction, bioethanol, biohydrogen, and biochar-based fuel cells, also demonstrated feasibility. However, heterogeneity in feedstocks, reporting methods, reactor scales, and performance indicators limited comparisons and prevented meta-analysis. This review provides a framework for selecting sustainable energy-recovery pathways and supporting large-scale valorization of pistachio wastes.

Source: Desalination and Water Treatment

DOI: 10.1016/j.dwt.2026.102042