RECOVERY OF MONOMERS AND BIOMACROMOLECULES FROM MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE: STATE OF THE ART AND PERSPECTIVES

This chapter reviews the current state of the art referring to the recovery and reuse of selected monomers and biomacromolecules (such as proteins and nucleic acids) from municipal solid waste. In fact, these recovered products, apart from representing a renewable source of energy, can gain a “second life,” hence being valorized for different uses, also including the synthesis of biopolymers and the design of low environmental impact flame retardant additives. In particular, the chapter is aimed at providing the reader with an overall picture concerning i) the processes that can be exploited for the recovery of the aforementioned high added-value products from municipal solid wastes, ii) the most relevant recoverable chemical building blocks and biomacromolecules and iii) some of the most promising potentialities offered by them. Finally, the potential of some of the recovered products for synthesizing biopolymers, as well as the main current limitations concerning the recovery and reuse of selected monomers and biomacromolecules are discussed, highlighting the open challenges and future possible developments.