In the last few years, the mining and metallurgy industry has made concerted efforts to improve waste management through a byproduct recovery strategy, mainly focusing on developing innovative technologies to provide sustainable solutions. This strategy has seen the metallurgy industry exploit more natural resources in waste streams while reducing its environmental impact, making the ‘zero-waste’ goal possible. As such, the concept of circular economy emerged, which seeks to improve the environmental sustainability of mining operations by recycling and reusing the generated waste as raw materials for producing other new products. This paper aims to analyze the findings from published studies on the treatment and stabilization technologies of metallurgical waste or byproducts for the construction industry. Furthermore, the paper synthesizes information on processes and treatment strategies to beneficiate the waste materials for application in the building and construction sector. Finally, the paper identifies knowledge gaps in the literature, using a comprehensive overview of the superior results achieved by the metallurgical industry and potential synergies with other industrial sectors. In conclusion, the paper presents future opportunities while highlighting specific areas that may be further explored. This review paper is helpful to researchers in the mining waste management discipline to have an aerial view of what has already been achieved in the field to improve the existing processes for environment preservation.

Lignocellulosic biomass, derived from plant materials, represents a renewable alternative to fossil fuels and plays a crucial role in advancing environmental sustainability. This systematic review investigates recent developments in the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into biofuels, with a focus on pre-treatment technologies that enhance enzymatic hydrolysis, a critical step in efficient biofuel production. This review addresses two primary questions: (1) What are the most effective pre-treatment methods for enhancing enzymatic hydrolysis in lignocellulosic biomass conversion? (2) How do these pre-treatment methods compare in terms of efficiency, environmental impact, and economic feasibility? Consequently, studies were selected based on inclusion criteria that focus on research investigating these pre-treatment methods and their comparative performance. A structured search of original studies was applied across databases such as Crossref, Google Scholar, Scopus, PubMed, and Semantic Scholar, resulting in the inclusion of 17 peer-reviewed articles published between 2019 and 2024. The findings highlight effective pre-treatment methods that significantly improve enzymatic accessibility and bioethanol yields. However, ongoing challenges such as feedstock variability, process efficiency, and cost-effectiveness remain. These results highlight the need for further research and development to optimize conversion technologies and identify new areas for exploration.

The growing global demand for clean energy and sustainability has increased interest in lignocellulosic biomass as a viable alternative to conventional fossil fuels. Among the various biomass resources, sugarcane bagasse, an abundant agro-industrial by-product, has emerged as a promising feedstock to produce renewable fuels and value-added chemicals. Its high carbohydrate content offers significant potential for bioconversion. However, its complex and recalcitrant lignocellulosic matrix presents significant challenges that necessitate advanced pretreatment techniques to improve enzymatic digestibility and fermentation efficiency. This review consolidates recent developments in the valorization of sugarcane bagasse focusing on innovative pretreatment and fermentation strategies for sustainable bioethanol production. It emphasizes the synergistic benefits of integrating various pretreatment and fermentation methods to improve bioethanol yields, reduce processing costs and enhance overall process sustainability. This review further explores recent technological advancements, the impact of fermentation inhibitor, and emerging strategies to overcome these challenges through microbial strains and innovative fermentation methods. Additionally, it highlights the multi-faceted advantages of bagasse valorization, including waste minimization, renewable energy production and the promotion of sustainable agricultural practices. By evaluating the current state of research and outlining future perspectives, this paper serves as a comprehensive guide to advancing the valorization of sugarcane bagasse in the transition towards a low-carbon economy. The novelty of this review lies in its holistic integration of technological, economic, and policy perspectives, uniquely addressing the scalability of integrated pretreatment and fermentation processes for sugarcane bagasse, and outlining practical pathways for their translation from laboratory to sustainable industrial biorefineries within the circular bioeconomy framework.