Developing Process Designs for Biorefineries—Definitions, Categories, and Unit Operations

Tanmay Chaturvedi, Ana I. Torres, George Stephanopoulos, Mette Hedegaard Thomsen and Jens Ejbye Schmidt
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Tanmay Chaturvedi: Department of Energy Technology, Aalborg University, Niels Bohrvej 8, DK-6700 Esbjerg, Denmark
Ana I. Torres: Facultad de Ingeniería, Instituto de Ingeniería Química, Universidad de la República, Julio Herrera y Reissig 565, Montevideo 11300, Uruguay
George Stephanopoulos: Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
Mette Hedegaard Thomsen: Department of Energy Technology, Aalborg University, Niels Bohrvej 8, DK-6700 Esbjerg, Denmark
Jens Ejbye Schmidt: Institute of Chemical Engineering, Biotechnology and Environmental Technology, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230 Odense M, Denmark

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 6, 1-22

Abstract: In this review, we focus on the literature that described the various unit operations in a process design flowsheet of biorefineries. We begin by establishing the accepted definitions of a biorefinery, go on to describe how to categorize biorefineries, and finally review the literature on biorefinery process designs by listing the unit operation in each process design. Distinguishing biorefineries based on feedstock, the types of processing units, and the products emanating from the biorefinery are discussed.

Keywords: biomass; bio-products; process design; biorefinery; lignocellulose; proteins; waste; microalgae (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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