Biofuels

Biorefinery: Biofuels and biochemicals production

Worldwide attention has recently turned to bioethanol production as a strategy to improve global energy security. However, the need for greater production of renewable energy is enormous and the ability of corn-based ethanol to supply that need is limited. Efficient processing of cellulosic feedstocks such as switchgrass, corn stover, wood, waste, and other biomass materials such as algae would provide large, new sources of raw materials for the production of renewable fuels. Greater utilization of biomass feedstock can be accomplished by improving or developing new processing and separation technologies. These technologies would allow efficient production and recovery of biofuels as well as highly valued coproducts, reduce the net feedstock cost and increase the overall profitability of the process. Depending upon the processing and separation techniques, recovery of value-added coproducts could be significantly improved.

While significant progress has been made in the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to fuel ethanol, it has not yet been commercialized due to existing technical, economic, and commercial barriers. Exploring potential separation approaches and technologies may help reduce ethanol production cost and improve the overall techno-economic feasibility of the biorefinery. Future research requires a systematic approach to discover utilization of renewables. Critical components of biofuels production require additional research that includes fundamental and advance research on the feedstock pretreatment and product recovery mechanisms. Advances in these areas are needed to address key challenges in efficiency, durability, energy requirement and environmental impacts. Hybrid separation models would have a great role to play for efficient recovery of fuel and biobased chemicals.