A framework for the design and analysis of integrated multi-product biorefineries from agricultural and forestry wastes

Abstract

Sustainable biomass valorization, as agricultural and forestry wastes, and the development of conversion processes could bring additional benefits like solving the residue disposal, generating renewable biofuels and bio-based chemicals, reducing net greenhouse gas emissions, and creating more manufacturing jobs, among others. The commercialized processes based on the biorefinery concept are increasing in chemicals and biofuels production, which can be integrated into the conventional manufacturing processes. These processes generated dilute aqueous streams with numerous side products and waste streams. The biorefinery schemes on an industrial scale require the process design and technical and economic assessment to establish its viability and to elucidate its potential socioeconomic effect at local and regional levels. The reviewed literature shows the obtaining of several marketable industrial interest products with high yields of the final product. The most significant variables and parameters should be established and enhanced to attain efficient and profitable processes. The diverse schemes of biorefinery can be assessed based on the process design, the mass, and energy integration, economic assessment, and risk and sensibility analysis. This work presents a framework for the design, analysis, and assessment of biorefinery schemes. They could be integrated into agricultural and forestry waste production chains for their valorization. Sections 1–5 define the steps to follow for the design, analysis, and assessment of biorefinery schemes. A case study to demonstrate the application of the proposed scheme is shown in Section 6. Finally, in Section 7, some challenges in the design and analysis of a multi-product biorefinery are presented.