Biorefinery

A biorefinery is a refinery that converts biomass to energy and other beneficial byproducts (such as chemicals). The International Energy Agency Bioenergy Task 42 defined biorefining as "the sustainable processing of biomass into a spectrum of bio-based products (food, feed, chemicals, materials) and bioenergy (biofuels, power and/or heat)".^[1] As refineries, biorefineries can provide multiple chemicals by fractioning an initial raw material (biomass) into multiple intermediates (carbohydrates, proteins, triglycerides) that can be further converted into value-added products.^[2] Each refining phase is also referred to as a "cascading phase".^[3]^[4] The use of biomass as feedstock can provide a benefit by reducing the impacts on the environment, as lower pollutants emissions and reduction in the emissions of hazard products.^[5] In addition, biorefineries are intended to achieve the following goals:^[6]

Supply the current fuels and chemical building blocks
Supply new building blocks for the production of novel materials with disruptive characteristics
Creation of new jobs, including rural areas
Valorization of waste (agricultural, urban, and industrial waste)
Achieve the ultimate goal of reducing GHG emissions

^ International Energy Agency - Bioenergy Task 42. "Bio-based Chemicals: Value Added Products from Biorefineries | Bioenergy" (PDF). Retrieved 2019-02-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^ Cherubini, Francesco (July 2017). "The biorefinery concept: Using biomass instead of oil for producing energy and chemicals". Energy Conversion and Management. 15 (7). Elsevier: 1412–1421. doi:10.1016/j.enconman.2010.01.015. ISSN 0196-8904.
^ Hoeven, Diederik van der (2018-01-17). "Seaweed biorefinery: much work, high hopes". Bio Based Press. Retrieved 2022-08-02.
^ Cascade, Macro. "Products". Macro Cascade. Retrieved 2022-08-02.
^ Bajpai, Pratima (2013). Biorefinery in the Pulp and Paper Industry. Elsevier. p. 99. ISBN 9780124095083.
^ Qureshi, Nasib; Hodge, David; Vertès, Alain (2014). Biorefineries. Integrated Biochemical Processes for Liquid Biofuels. Elsevier. p. 59. ISBN 9780444594983.

[1] International Energy Agency - Bioenergy Task 42. "Bio-based Chemicals: Value Added Products from Biorefineries | Bioenergy" (PDF). Retrieved 2019-02-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)

[2] Cherubini, Francesco (July 2017). "The biorefinery concept: Using biomass instead of oil for producing energy and chemicals". Energy Conversion and Management. 15 (7). Elsevier: 1412–1421. doi:10.1016/j.enconman.2010.01.015. ISSN 0196-8904.

[Hoeven-3] Hoeven, Diederik van der (2018-01-17). "Seaweed biorefinery: much work, high hopes". Bio Based Press. Retrieved 2022-08-02.

[4] Cascade, Macro. "Products". Macro Cascade. Retrieved 2022-08-02.

[5] Bajpai, Pratima (2013). Biorefinery in the Pulp and Paper Industry. Elsevier. p. 99. ISBN 9780124095083.

[6] Qureshi, Nasib; Hodge, David; Vertès, Alain (2014). Biorefineries. Integrated Biochemical Processes for Liquid Biofuels. Elsevier. p. 59. ISBN 9780444594983.

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