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New Sustainable Model of Biorefineries: Biofactories and Challenges of Integrating Bio‐ and Solar Refineries
Author(s) -
Abate Salvatore,
Lanzafame Paola,
Perathoner Siglinda,
Centi Gabriele
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
chemsuschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.412
H-Index - 157
eISSN - 1864-564X
pISSN - 1864-5631
DOI - 10.1002/cssc.201500277
Subject(s) - biorefinery , biochemical engineering , oil refinery , production (economics) , sustainability , industrial symbiosis , environmental science , engineering , biofuel , waste management , economics , ecology , biology , macroeconomics
The new scenario for sustainable (low‐carbon) chemical and energy production drives the development of new biorefinery concepts (indicated as biofactories) with chemical production at the core, but flexible and small‐scale production. An important element is also the integration of solar energy and CO 2 use within biobased production. This concept paper, after shortly introducing the motivation and recent trends in this area, particularly at the industrial scale, and some of the possible models (olefin and intermediate/high‐added‐value chemicals production), discusses the opportunities and needs for research to address the challenge of integrating bio‐ and solar refineries. Aspects discussed regard the use of microalgae and CO 2 valorization in biorefineries/biofactories by chemo‐ or biocatalysis, including possibilities for their synergetic cooperation and symbiosis, as well as integration within the agroenergy value chain.