Chemical-biological synergistic strategies for the valorisation of waste carbon resources

The generation of waste is a significant challenge posed by industrialisation and population growth. The present viewpoint paper explores chemical-biological synergistic strategies for the valorisation of diverse waste carbon resources, with a view to addressing the limitations of standalone methods. It details two main modes: cascade and hybrid. Cascade strategies are defined by a series of chemical and biological processes, exemplified by the upcycling of CO 2 , plastic wastes, lignocellulosic biomass, and food waste. Hybrid strategies are those which integrate chemical and biological catalysts directly, often using light or electrical energy, such as bio-electrochemical systems for CO 2 fixation. This paper demonstrates the potential of the aforementioned strategies for a circular bioeconomy, and provides a discussion of future research directions. Such directions include, but are not limited to, the activation of recalcitrant bonds, the optimisation of energy transfer, the expansion of biological funnelling, and the improvement of kinetics and scale-up. These advancements are crucial for developing economically viable and environmentally sustainable solutions for waste carbon valorisation, contributing to a robust circular economy and mitigating climate change.