Electro-refinery in organic compounds and H2 co-production: from waste valorization to sustainable industrial energy solutions

The growing demand for clean, renewable energy, together with the need to mitigate wastewater pollution, has driven the development of sustainable clean water and H 2 production technologies. Traditional water splitting is a potential pathway for H 2 production, but its slow kinetics hinder efficiency. Othe othar hand, electro-refinery in organics combines anodic oxidation reactions with H 2 evolution to solve pollution and biomass recycling problems. This review discusses electro-refinery in organic systems, which co-produce high-purity H 2 and valuable products, with low energy consumption and high Faradaic efficiency. First, the principles of electro-refinery in organics and the influence of electrodes, electrolytes, and redox potentials on process selectivity and energy efficiency are presented. The discussion then connects the electro-refinery in organics with renewable energy integration and circular economy strategies, highlighting its role in decarbonization and waste valorization. In addition, the coupling of H 2 generation with organic molecule oxidation reactions or the electrochemical reforming of real wastewater is analyzed. The review also addresses global research trends in terms of scientific publications and the main challenges and opportunities for electro-refinery in organics. These recent research advances offer new opportunities for low-voltage H 2 generation from wastes and renewable feedstock, consolidating it as a key technology linking wastewater pollution reduction, waste valorization, energy recovery, and fuels, as well as a sustainable industrial development. • Slow OER kinetics limit H 2 production efficiency in conventional electrolysis. • Electro-refinery in organics enables low-voltage H 2 generation from organic feedstocks. • Waste valorization and energy recovery drive sustainable industrial development. • Renewable-driven electrorefining advances circular sustainability. • Electrode and electrolyte design control selectivity and energy efficiency.