Biorefining in the prevailing energy and materials crisis: a review of sustainable pathways for biorefinery value chains and sustainability assessment methodologies

Abstract

Abstract:The aim of the current paper is to discuss the sustainability aspect of biorefinery systems with focus on: biomass supply chains, processing of biomass feedstocks in biorefinery platforms and sustainability assessment methodologies. From the stand point of sustainability, it is important to optimize the agricultural production system and minimize the related environmental impacts at the farming system level. These impacts are primarily related to agri-chemical inputs and the related undesired environmental emissions and to the repercussions from biomass production. At the same time, the biorefineries needs a year-round supply of biomass and about 40-60% of the total operating cost of a typical biorefinery is related to the feedstocks chosen, and thus highlights on the careful prioritization of feedstocks mainly based on their economic and environmental loadings. Regarding the processing in biorefinery platforms, chemical composition of biomasses is important. Biomasses with higher concentrations of cellulose and hemicelluloses compared to lignin are preferred for bioethanol production in the lignocellulosic biorefinery, since the biodegradability of cellulose is higher than lignin. A green biorefinery platform enables the extraction of protein from grasses, producing an important alternative to importing protein sources for food products and animal feed, while also allowing processing of residues to deliver bioethanol. Currently, there are several approaches to integrate biorefinery platforms, which are aimed to enhance their economic and environmental sustainability. Regarding sustainability assessment, the complexities related to the material flows in a biorefinery and the delivery of alternative biobased products means dealing with multiple indicators in the decision-making process to enable comparisons of alternatives. Life Cycle Assessment is regarded as one of the most relevant tools to assess the environmental hotspots in the biomass supply chains, at processing stages and also to support in the prioritization of any specific biobased products and the alternatives delivered from biorefineries.Keywords: biorefinery, biomass feedstock, sustainability, biobased product, environmental performances, economic performances, Life Cycle Assessment 2 IntroductionThe societal need of energy and materials is predicted to reach a crisis point in the near future [1]. This is because of the coupling between escalating demand and cost of fossil fuels upon which the production of chemicals, materials and energy conversions still depend. The high energy intensity in material production has sustainability impacts on the energy sector, environment and economy [2]. Currently fossil fuels contribute about 80% of the global energy demand, and even if the current political commitments and strategies to tackle the issues of climate change and energy insecurity, as envisioned by different countries are in place, the global energy demand in 2035 is still projected to rise by 40% with fossil fuels contributing 75% [3]. The ...

Socio-economic Impacts—Agricultural Systems

“…White areas reflect regions with insufficient data protein production for monogastric farm animals (pigs and poultry) as well as for farmed fish. This would require the development and implementation of new biorefinery technologies, for which Europe with its ability to combine advanced technologies may be particularly well suited (Parajuli et al 2015). This would strengthen the role of northwest Europe as a continued supplier of food, but also as a supplier of the technologies for sustainable intensification of production systems that target both adaptation and mitigation to climate change.…”

Influência do Protocolo Agroambiental na Gestão Ambiental de Indústrias do Setor Sucroenergético da Microrregião de Assis/SP: Um Estudo de Múltiplos Casos

“…Além disso, o completo desenvolvimento do processo para a produção comercial de etanol de segunda geração -o etanol celulósico -pode representar uma mudança transformacional na indústria da cana do país (Matsuoka et al, 2009; Buckeridge et al, 2010;Parajuli et al, 2015).…”

Biorrefineria a Partir De Banano De Rechazo: Un Sistema Integrado Para La Co-Producción De Etanol, Proteína Unicelular, Biogás Y Compost

“…Este concepto es análogo al de las refinerías de petróleo, donde gracias a una infraestructura flexible, es posible convertir la biomasa en diversos productos como combustibles, energía y co-productos con valor agregado [6]. De ésta manera se puede maximizar el valor económico de la biomasa usada, mientras se reducen las cantidades de los residuos producidos.…”

“…De acuerdo con lo anterior, es posible desarrollar una biorrefinería de segunda generación, basada en la fermentación del banano de rechazo [6,8]. En ésta biorrefinería se utilizan los frutos, como sustrato en una fermentación, para la producción de etanol y con los residuos resultantes se produce biogás [9], compost y gran variedad de subproductos.…”