Brewer’s Spent Grains—Valuable Beer Industry By-Product

The brewing sector is a significant part of the global food industry. Breweries produce large quantities of wastes, including wastewater and brewer’s spent grains. Currently, upcycling of food industry by-products is one of the principles of the circular economy. The aim of this review is to present...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Mateusz Jackowski, Łukasz Niedźwiecki, Kacper Jagiełło, Oliwia Uchańska, Anna Trusek
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-12-01
Series:Biomolecules
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/10/12/1669
Description
Summary:The brewing sector is a significant part of the global food industry. Breweries produce large quantities of wastes, including wastewater and brewer’s spent grains. Currently, upcycling of food industry by-products is one of the principles of the circular economy. The aim of this review is to present possible ways to utilize common solid by-product from the brewing sector. Brewer’s spent grains (BSG) is a good material for sorption and processing into activated carbon. Another way to utilize spent grains is to use them as a fuel in raw form, after hydrothermal carbonization or as a feedstock for anaerobic digestion. The mentioned by-products may also be utilized in animal and human nutrition. Moreover, BSG is a waste rich in various substances that may be extracted for further utilization. It is likely that, in upcoming years, brewer’s spent grains will not be considered as a by-product, but as a desirable raw material for various branches of industry.
ISSN:2218-273X