Biorefinery of Cocoa Waste: A Systematic Review and Bibliometric Analysis

Resumo

The growing demand for sustainable alternatives to produce biofuels and bioproducts has driven the development of biorefineries based on agro-industrial residues. Cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.), an important agricultural commodity, generates approximately 70–80% of residues during its processing, presenting significant potential for use in integrated conversion processes. This study presents a systematic literature review combined with a bibliometric analysis to answer the question: Do cocoa residue biorefineries exist? The literature search was conducted using the Scopus and Web of Science databases, resulting in the selection of 32 articles. The main publication trends, countries, journals, authors, institutions, and associated keywords were analyzed. The results show that scientific production on cocoa residue biorefineries is emerging, concentrated in cocoa producing countries in Latin America and Asia, and strongly related to bioenergy routes, bioactive compounds, and the circular economy. This analysis provides both quantitative and qualitative insights to support the development of biorefinery proposals and the identification of research gaps.