Biorefinery
INTRODUCTION
Sustainable economical growth requires the safe resources of raw materials for industrial production.
Currently, the most frequently used industrial raw material, petroleum, is neither sustainable, because of its limited supply, nor environmentally friendly. While the economy of energy can be based on various alternative raw materials, such as wind, sun, water, biomass, as well as nuclear fission and fusion, the economy of substances fundamentally depends on biomass, in particular, biomass from plants.
Special requirements are placed on both the substantial converting industry as well as research and development regarding the efficiency of raw materials and product lines as well as sustainability. “The development of biorefineries represents the key for the access to an integrated production of food, feed, chemicals, materials, goods, and fuels of the future”
PRINCIPLES OF BIOREFINERIES
Fundamentals
Biomass is similar to petroleum as a complex composition. Its primary separation into main groups of substances is appropriate. Subsequent treatment and processing of those substances lead to a whole palette of products. Petrochemistry is based on the principle of generating from hydrocarbons simpleto-handle and well-defined chemically pure elements in refineries. In efficient product lines, a system based on family trees has been built, in which basic chemicals, intermediate products, and sophisticated products are produced. This principle of petroleum refineries must be transferred to biorefineries. Biomass contains the synthesis performance of nature and has another C:H:O:N ratio than petroleum. The biotechnological conversion will become, besides the chemical, a big player in the future
BIOREFINERY SYSTEMS
Background
Currently, four complex biorefinery systems are the focus in research and development:
1. the lignocellulosic feedstock (LCF) biorefinery, which uses “nature-dry” raw materials such as cellulose-containing biomass
Sustainable economical growth requires the safe resources of raw materials for industrial production.
Currently, the most frequently used industrial raw material, petroleum, is neither sustainable, because of its limited supply, nor environmentally friendly. While the economy of energy can be based on various alternative raw materials, such as wind, sun, water, biomass, as well as nuclear fission and fusion, the economy of substances fundamentally depends on biomass, in particular, biomass from plants.
Special requirements are placed on both the substantial converting industry as well as research and development regarding the efficiency of raw materials and product lines as well as sustainability. “The development of biorefineries represents the key for the access to an integrated production of food, feed, chemicals, materials, goods, and fuels of the future”
PRINCIPLES OF BIOREFINERIES
Fundamentals
Biomass is similar to petroleum as a complex composition. Its primary separation into main groups of substances is appropriate. Subsequent treatment and processing of those substances lead to a whole palette of products. Petrochemistry is based on the principle of generating from hydrocarbons simpleto-handle and well-defined chemically pure elements in refineries. In efficient product lines, a system based on family trees has been built, in which basic chemicals, intermediate products, and sophisticated products are produced. This principle of petroleum refineries must be transferred to biorefineries. Biomass contains the synthesis performance of nature and has another C:H:O:N ratio than petroleum. The biotechnological conversion will become, besides the chemical, a big player in the future
BIOREFINERY SYSTEMS
Background
Currently, four complex biorefinery systems are the focus in research and development:
1. the lignocellulosic feedstock (LCF) biorefinery, which uses “nature-dry” raw materials such as cellulose-containing biomass