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A Biorefinery Approach to Improve the Sustainability of the South African Sugar Industry: An Assessment of Selected Scenarios
Published in Linda Godfrey, Johann F Görgens, Henry Roman, Opportunities for Biomass and Organic Waste Valorisation, 2020
K Haigh, MA Mandegari, S Farzad, AG Dafal, JF Görgens
It has been proposed that the sustainability of the South African sugar industry can be improved by product diversification through sugar cane biorefineries using agricultural and processing residues. Approximately 1 million people in South Africa depend directly and indirectly on the current sugar industry for their livelihoods. This includes 25000 registered small-scale growers on the cultivation side (SASA). Biorefining is the sustainable processing of biomass into a spectrum of marketable products and energy (Cherubini, 2010a) and embraces a wide range of technologies able to separate biomass resources (wood, grasses, corn, sugar cane, etc.) into their building blocks (carbohydrates, proteins, triglycerides, etc.), which can be converted to value-added products, such as materials, biofuels, chemicals and electricity as part of a biobased economy. The idea of a biobased or green economy is that the focus shifts towards producing fuels, chemicals and advanced materials from biomass in a way that supports development of the existing rural community and existing biobased industries while minimising harm to the environment (Langeveld et al., 2010).
Fossil Fuels versus Biofuels
Published in Sonil Nanda, Prakash Kumar Sarangi, Dai-Viet N. Vo, Fuel Processing and Energy Utilization, 2019
Kang Kang, Mingqiang Zhu, Guotao Sun, Xiaohui Guo
The concept of biorefinery can be compared to a petroleum refinery. The recoverable products in a biorefinery include high-value products (e.g., biofuels) and medium-value products (e.g., fibers, bioplastic precursors, biochemicals, animal feed, etc.), although the toxicity and quality of the products determines their end use (Kamm and Kamm 2004; Halasz et al. 2005). Therefore, biofuels are the main drivers for the developments of a biorefinery, but other relevant by-products are expected to be developed as technology becomes more and more sophisticated over time. This development could also help in a circular economy (i.e., utilization of all the end-products and by-products of a biorefining process).
Biorefineries
Published in M.R. Riazi, David Chiaramonti, Biofuels Production and Processing Technology, 2017
Isabella De Bari, Daniela Cuna, Nicola Di Fidio, M.R. Riazi, David Chiaramonti
Biorefining of biomass generates intermediate products called platforms (i.e., pentose/hexoses sugars, lignin, syngas, oils, and biogas), which can be converted into a number of final bioproducts. This chapter will overview processes and technologies to produce and convert the main biomass platforms to biofuels and bio-based products.
Microalgae-based carbon capture and utilization: A critical review on current system developments and biomass utilization
Published in Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, 2023
Luong N. Nguyen, Minh T. Vu, Hang P. Vu, Md. Abu Hasan Johir, Leen Labeeuw, Peter J. Ralph, T. M. I. Mahlia, Ashok Pandey, Ranjna Sirohi, Long D. Nghiem
Biomass utilization in the microalgae-based carbon capture process refers to the ability to convert microalgal biomass into value-added products that otherwise need to be extracted from fossil sources. Through photosynthesis, microalgae convert inorganic carbon into macromolecules, metabolites, and biochemical compounds (e.g. lipids, carbohydrates, and proteins). Microalgae-based carbon capture and utilization could simultaneously mitigate climate change and generate commercial products. Microalgae also can offset or reduce carbon by replacing items currently derived from carbon-intensive practices using fossil fuel. The concept of carbon capture and utilization via a microalgal biorefinery is in line with the IEA's Task 42 objective "Biorefining in a circular economy" and CO2 utilization in a circular economy (Srinivasan et al., 2021).
Potential of biofuels production from wheat straw biomass, current achievements and perspectives: a review
Published in Biofuels, 2023
Ahmad Taghizadeh-Alisaraei, Aliasghar Tatari, Majid Khanali, Mohsen Keshavarzi
In general, the petrochemical industry in the future will use biorefining as a supplement and gradually as a suitable alternative to completely replace oil-based products [155]. The production and use of oil-based fuels, in addition to being a significant source of environmental pollution, is one of the basic factors in the economy of countries. For example, small fluctuations in the price of fuels such as diesel can affect the efficiency of the economy. From an economic point of view, biorefining will create a new economy [156]. The complexity and economic of lignocellulosic biomass is comparable to petroleum [157,158]. Because biofuels and biochemical materials as industrial materials will gradually compete with petroleum-based industries in terms of price [159,160]. There is a big obstacle for the commercialization of biorefining, and that is the use of fossil fuels to supply the energy required for the process itself, which must be provided somehow. Research in this field will certainly provide useful results in the future and will require the creation of a targeted network of scientists