Hydrocarbon biorefinery

Huber, G.W. (2008) Breaking the Chemical and Engineering Barriers to Lignocellulosic Biofuels Next Generation Hydrocarbon Biorefineries, National Science Foundation, Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental and Transport Systems Division,... 

Wang, B., Gebreslassie, B.H., You, R, 2013. Sustainable design and synthesis of hydrocarbon biorefinery via gasification pathway integrated life cycle assessment and technoeconomic analysis with multiobjective superstructure optimization. Comput. Chem. Eng. 52, 55-76. 

Alternatively, an entirely new downstream process and product chain, using renewable raw materials, can be conceived (the biorefinery ). The chemistry will be more focused on that of oxohydrocarbons (particularly carbohydrates) rather than hydrocarbons. Understanding the materials chemistry of biomass and related products would need to be enhanced. However, work has already been undertaken to identify the top sugar-derived intermediates (Figure 1.9) on which down-stream chemical processing might be derived. 

This chapter surveys different process options to convert terpenes, plant oils, carbohydrates and lignocellulosic materials into valuable chemicals and polymers. Three different strategies of conversion processes integrated in a biorefinery scheme are proposed from biomass to bioproducts via degraded molecules , from platform molecules to bioproducts , and from biomass to bioproducts via new synthesis routes . Selected examples representative of the three options are given. Attention is focused on conversions based on one-pot reactions involving one or several catalytic steps that could be used to replace conventional synthetic routes developed for hydrocarbons. 

Liquid phase catalytic processing is a promising biorefinery process that produces functionalized hydrocarbons from biomass-derived intermediates (e.g., intermediate hydroxymethylfurfural or HMF). Renewable furan derivatives can be used as substitute building blocks for fossil fuels, plastics, and fine chemicals, ° or to develop biofuels based on C5 and C6 carbohydrates (sugars, hemicellulose, cellulose). Currently, Avantium Chemicals in the Netherlands is developing chemical catalytic routes to generate furanics for renewable polymers, bulk and specialty chemicals, and biofuels. ... 

Biohydrocarbons means hydrocarbons in which the carbon stems from renewable raw materials, mostly biomass. Such biohydrocarbons will provide a direct drop-in interface between a biorefinery and the existing petrochemical industry. 

Gebreslassie, B.H., Waymire, R., Waymire, R., You, F., 2013. Sustainable design and s)mthesis of algae-based biorefinery for simultaneous hydrocarbon biofuel production and carbon sequestration. AlChE Journal 59 (5), 1599-1621. Gibson, L., 2010. Verdezyne proves adipic acid production process. Biomass Magazine 4,25. 

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