Significance and Challenges of Biomass as a Suitable Feedstock for Bioenergy and Biochemical Production: A Review

Richard Ahorsu, Francesc Medina and Magda Constantí
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Richard Ahorsu: Departament d’Enginyeria Química, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, 43007 Tarragona, Spain
Francesc Medina: Departament d’Enginyeria Química, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, 43007 Tarragona, Spain
Magda Constantí: Departament d’Enginyeria Química, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, 43007 Tarragona, Spain

Energies, 2018, vol. 11, issue 12, 1-19

Abstract: Fossil fuels have been a major contributor to greenhouse gases, the amounts of which could be reduced if biofuels such as bioethanol and biodiesel were used for transportation. One of the most promising biofuels is ethyl alcohol. In 2015, the world production of ethanol was 25.6 billion gallons and the USA, Brazil, China, the European Union, and 28 other countries have set targets for blending ethanol with gasoline. The two major bio-source materials used for ethanol production are corn and sugarcane. For 1st generation biofuels, sugarcane and corn feedstocks are not able to fulfill the current demand for alcohol. Non-edible lignocellulosic biomass is an alternative bio-source for creating 2nd generation biofuels and algae biomass for 3rd and 4th generation biofuels. This review discusses the significance of biomass for the different generations of biofuels, and biochemical and thermochemical processes, and the significance of biorefinery products.

Keywords: biofuel; lignocellulosic biomass; biochemicals; ethanol; biorefinery (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: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (30)

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