Biomass Waste as Sustainable Raw Material for Energy and Fuels

CLAUSER, NICOLÁS M.; GONZÁLEZ, GISELLE; MENDIETA, CAROLINA M.; KRUYENISKI, J.; AREA MARÍA CRISTINA; VALLEJOS, MARÍA E.

Sustainability

MDPI AG

Lugar: Switzerland; Año: 2021 vol. 13 p. 1 - 21

2071-1050

Sustainable development is the common goal of the current concepts of bioeconomy andcircular economy. In this sense, the biorefineries platforms are a strategic factor to increase thebioeconomy in the economic balance. The incorporation of renewable sources to produce fuels,chemicals, and energy, includes sustainability, reduction of greenhouse gases (GHG), and creatingmore manufacturing jobs fostering the advancement of regional and social systems by implementingthe comprehensive use of available biomass, due to its low costs and high availability. This paperdescribes the emerging biorefinery strategies to produce fuels (bio-ethanol and γ-valerolactone)and energy (pellets and steam), compared with the currently established biorefineries designed forfuels, pellets, and steam. The focus is on the state of the art of biofuels and energy production andenvironmental factors, as well as a discussion about the main conversion technologies, productionstrategies, and barriers. Through the implementation of biorefineries platforms and the evaluationof low environmental impact technologies and processes, new sustainable production strategies forbiofuels and energy can be established, making these biobased industries into more competitivealternatives, and improving the economy of the current value chains.