Dark fermentation: Production and utilization of volatile fatty acid from different wastes- A review.

Volatile fatty acids (VFAs) are the building blocks of the chemical industry, and they are the primary contributors to the planet's organic carbon cycle. VFA production from fossil fuels (mostly petroleum) is unsustainable, pollutes the environment, and generates greenhouse gases. As a result of these issues, there is a pressing need to develop alternate sources for the long-term generation of VFAs via anaerobic digestion. The accessible feedstocks for its sustainable production, as well as the influencing parameters, are discussed in this review. The use of VFAs as a raw material to make a variety of consumer products is reviewed in order to find a solution. It also bridges the gap between traditional and advanced VFA production and utilization methods from a variety of solid and liquid waste sources for economical stability. [Display omitted] • VFA production from different solid and liquid wastes are reviewed. • Influential parameters for VFAs production are evaluated. • Economical approaches are discussed for VFA production on scaleup. • VFAs applications to produce various consumers' products are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]