Renewable feedstocks biorefineries

The biorefinery scheme was developed initially for carbohydrate-containing feedstocks. Large biorefineries are currently operating in the USA (e.g., Cargill at Blair, Nebraska) and in Europe (e.g., Roquette Frs. at Lestrem, France). The concept can be extended to produce chemicals from other renewable feedstocks. An integrated production of oleochemicals and biofuels can be achieved in biorefineries using vegetables oils as main feedstock to produce versatile platform mole-... 

Within the biorefinery framework several process options can be chosen to produce bioproducts from renewable feedstocks. We have identified the following three main options that will be illustrated by selected examples. 

Approximately 89 million metric t of organic chemicals and lubricants, the majority of which are fossil based, are produced annually in the United States. The development of new industrial bioproducts, for production in standalone facilities or biorefineries, has the potential to reduce our dependence on imported oil and improve energy security. Advances in biotechnology are enabling the optimization of feedstock composition and agronomic characteristics and the development of new and improved fermentation organisms for conversion of biomass to new end products or intermediates. This article reviews recent biotechnology efforts to develop new industrial bioproducts and improve renewable feedstocks and key market opportunities. 

Biorefineries are among the key areas for a successful industrial application of renewable resources. In concept, biorefineries are similar to petroleum refineries however, biorefineries use renewables instead of petroleum to produce transportation fuels and chemicals. Biorefineries can employ various combinations of feedstocks and conversion technologies to produce a variety of products. The renewable feedstocks can be of various kinds of grain, energy crops such as corn, switchgrass, miscanthus, willow, and poplar, and agricultural, forest, and industrial residues... 

Though bio-based products are dominated by petrochemicals, biorefineries have the potential to replace them in the futme. The major hurdle is the possible increase in food prices. A promising suggestion is the use of renewable feedstocks (such as algae) as an alternative to food crops. 

The biorefinery industry is marked with a feedstock related to the dispersed nature of its diet. The incoming raw material to a biorefinery is produced in a small scale (compared to an oil refinery), and in remote, distributed locations. Consequently, the biorefinery capacity is a parameter difficult to define due to the uncertainty in collection and blending of the feedstock. The next question is to what extent will the oil industry be involved in such operations and how will that affect the fossil to renewable ratio or the intake feedstock. 

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