The term "biorefinery," or biomass refinery, emerged in the 1990s and referred to the use of corn and soybeans as a basis for the production of fuels and also other substances that have applications in the chemical industry. The use of the word refinery refers to oil refineries, where multiple products are produced from the same raw material. Today, the concept of biorefinery encompasses the use of various biomass sources, including wheat, corn, sugar beet, and sugarcane, with the potential to be converted into biofuels, animal feeds, solvents, plastics, and inputs for the chemical, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. As a renewable resource, biomass presents a significant advantage over oil.
In a biorefinery, the use of biomass is optimized through integrated systems, interrelating raw materials, processes, technologies, products, and waste. The idea is to generate energy (biofuels) while simultaneously producing various types of high-value products. Although there are other viable sources of clean energy, such as wind, solar, and even nuclear, biofuels also help supply the production of chemical inputs for the industry.
It is believed that by 2025, about 30% of the inputs for the chemical industry will be produced sustainably from renewable sources. But this will only be possible with the development of new technologies. Currently, two models of biorefineries have shown to be quite promising. The so-called "sugar platforms" use fermentation and other biological processes to convert biomass into sugars, from which other products can be manufactured. A report commissioned by the U.S. Department of Energy identified 12 "key" chemical inputs that could be produced from sugars in biorefineries. These substances (including succinic acid, sorbitol, and glycerol) can have direct applications and also serve as "building blocks" to create a multitude of other products. The "syngas platform," on the other hand, uses thermochemical methods to gasify biomass, producing a gas known as syngas (synthesis gas). This gas can be converted into methanol, from which various higher-value derivatives are produced. Syngas can also be used to produce synthetic natural gas.
For the paper industry, research in biorefinery presents a significant opportunity in the search for alternatives to deconstruct wood into its main components: cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. Lignin, which accounts for approximately 25% of wood, is composed of phenolic groups that can be broken down into a vast range of products such as dispersants, emulsifiers, binders, and adhesives. In other words, although biofuels are the flagship products of biorefineries, they will also be capable of supplying new and varied markets based on renewable and environmentally friendly products.
Each country seeks to adapt technology according to its vocation for biomass production. In Austria, for example, research is focused on the utilization of forage crops (grass), as pasture areas are being abandoned due to the reduction of livestock. Japan, on the other hand, bets on the application of cultivated microalgae as a biomass source. In France, the ARD group (Agro-Industrie Recherches et Développements), created by farmers in the 1980s, is now the leading innovative platform in biotechnology, aiming to become an international reference center in biorefinery. Among the companies that are part of this group are Soliance, Futurol, Wheatoleo, FRD, and BioAmber. Their expertise includes plant fractionation and biorefining, white biotechnology (industrial), bioproduct chemistry, and agro-materials. One of the group's focuses for the cosmetic industry is the production of biosurfactants, hyaluronic acid, dihydroxyacetone, and ingredients derived from succinic acid.
Investments in biorefineries are expected to grow significantly, as their production will be flexible and varied, able to meet different markets and thus reducing risks. In the U.S., pilot facilities have been created with plans to start commercializing their products in 2020. Brazil, a pioneer in ethanol production from sugarcane, has great potential to develop this new energy matrix. A map provided by the "Biorefinery Brazil" group (https://biorefinery.crowdmap.com/) allows visualization of the location of initiatives related to the segment worldwide. Currently, Europe and the U.S. lead in the number of projects.
Another significant option for biorefineries is the possibility of using waste as a biomass source. In Brazil alone, approximately 600 million tons of agricultural waste, such as corn and wheat straw and residues from forestry, are produced annually. Industrial waste can also be useful in biorefineries, making a strong synergy between these enterprises possible. This industrial symbiosis is a strong current trend, as it increases competitiveness while reducing environmental impacts. The prospects are many. It seems that biorefineries are here to stay.
References
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KAMM, B. 2007. Production of platform chemicals and synthesis gas from biomass. Angew. Chem. Int. 46: 5056-5058. Available at: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/anie.200604514/pdf
MARTIN, Caroline. 2011. Industrial biorefinery. O papel 72:30-36. Available at: http://www.revistaopapel.org.br/noticia-anexos/1302090574_4ece2ae090be1070c0ede8a778feb526_1985635854.pdf
MOUSDALE, D. M. 2010. Introduction to biofuels. Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press. 429p.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory. http://www.nrel.gov/biomass/biorefinery.html [accessed on 15/10-12]
