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Biorefinery: Concepts, Current Status, and Development Trends

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International Journal of biomass & renewables Review Paper

BIOREFINERY : CONCEPTS, CURRENT STATUS, AND DEVELOPMENT TRENDS

Nhu Quynh Diep1, Kinya Sakanishi2*, Nobukazu Nakagoshi1, Shinji Fujimoto3, Tomoaki Minowa3, Xuan Dang Tran1
1Graduate School for International Development and Cooperation, Hiroshima University, 1-5-1 Kagamiyama, Higashi Hiroshima, Hiroshima 739-8529, Japan.
2*National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology - AIST Tsukuba Headquarters, 1-1-1 Umezono, Tsukuba 305-8568, Japan.
3Biomass Refinery Research Center, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, 3-11-32 Kagamiyama, Higashi Hiroshima.
Hiroshima 739-0046, Japan

Abstract
Biorefineries are expected to effectively utilise abundant biomass resources in a sustainable manner in order to ensure energy security,
mitigate climate change, and meet the endless demand for chemicals and materials. This paper reviews the current global status and devel-
opmental trends in the field of biorefinery. To date, the biorefinery industry is mainly in the pilot and demonstration stages. Considerable
developmental work is underway, and new biorefinery concepts are expected to be commercially deployed by 2020. The deployment of
biorefineries, based largely on lignocellulosic feedstock, depends on the technical maturity of a range of production processes. The combina-
tion of market formation and governmental support for biomass-derived products is one of the important factors in determining the type
and rate of biorefinery deployment.

Keywords: Biomass; Biorefinery; Feedstock; Lignocellulosic; Pilot.

1. Introduction
Biorefinery is similar to petroleum refinery except that it utilises Department of Energy Report on Integrated Biorefineries.
biomass instead of crude oil to produce transportation fuels, heat, Furthermore, the review introduces ideas regarding how to
power, chemicals, and materials. Because biomass is renewable and promote the deployment of commercial-scale biorefineries. Parts of
carbon-neutral, at the World Economic Forum in 2008 and 2009, the the texts, tables and figures in this study were directly copied from
use of industrial biorefineries was identified as one potential previously published papers and reports.
solution that may help to mitigate the threat of climate change and
meet the seemingly boundless demand for energy, fuels, chemicals
and materials [1].

A schematic description of the biorefinery processes is shown in Fig.

1. The biorefinery is not a completely new concept. The sugar,
starch, pulp and paper industries that use traditional conversion
processes are called phase I-biorefineries [2]. However, several
environmental and economic forces such as global warming,
security of energy and food supply, high energy costs, and
agricultural policies have also directed those industries to further
evolve their operations into biorefineries that sustainably produce a
spectrum of chemicals, materials and bioenergy. In some reports,
phase I-biorefineries do not meet the new concepts of biorefinery.
To date, biorefineries are at the conceptual stage for many countries
in the world, with new products and production processes still
being identified. There are different definitions being used Fig. 1. A schematic description of biorefinery processes [5].
depending on the type of activity and stakeholders involved.

The purpose of this review paper is to introduce new biorefinery 2. Definition and Classification System of
concepts and classifications, to summarise the current status and Biorefinery
developmental trends of biorefineries based on the published
reports of IEA Bioenergy Task 42, Bioenergy Euroview, and the U.S.

*Corresponding author. Tel: +81 82 420 8250; Fax: +81 82 420 8250. Page 1
E-mail address : kinya-sakanishi@aist.go.jp (K. Sakanishi).
2.1. Definition [3, 4] - Sustainable: maximising economics, minimising environmental
aspects, replacing fossil fuels, taking socioeconomic aspects into
Depending on the type of activity and stakeholders involved, many account
different definitions for biorefinery are currently being used. Some - Processing: upstream processing, transformation, fractionation,
examples are as follows : thermochemical and/or biochemical conversion, extraction,
• A biorefinery is a facility that integrates biomass conversion separation, downstream processing
processes and equipment to produce fuels, power, and - Biomass: crops, organic residues, agro-residues, forest residues,
value-added chemicals from biomass (NREL, 2007). wood, aquatic biomass
• A biorefinery is a cluster of bio-based industries producing - Spectrum: more than one
chemicals, fuels, power, products, and materials. - Marketable: a market (acceptable volumes & prices) already
• A biorefinery is a refining facility where biomass is converted into exists or is expected to become available in the near future
fuel, chemicals, materials and other uses, all at the same plant - Products: both intermediates and final products, i.e., food, feed,
(Bio-fuels for Transport, Worldwatch Institute, 2006). chemicals, and materials
• A biorefinery is an overall concept of a promising plant where - Energy: fuels, power, heat
biomass feedstocks are converted and extracted into a spectrum
of valuable products (DOE, 2007).
• Biorefinery is the separation of biomass into distinct components 2.2. Biorefinery Classification System
that can be individually brought to the market either directly after
separation or after further (biological, thermochemical, chemical) To date, a clear system to classify the different biorefinery concepts
treatment(s) (Elbersen et al., 2003). is still lacking. The followings are biorefinery classification systems
• Biorefining is the transfer of the efficiency and logic of the developed by different organisations.
fossil-based chemistry and the substantial converting industries,
as well as the production of energy, to the biomass industry
(Kamm et al., 2006). 2.2.1. Biorefinery classification system used in
• Biorefinery is the concept of converting plant-based biomass to Status Report Biorefinery 2007
chemicals, energy and materials that may run out in our
civilisation, replacing the needs for petroleum, coal, natural gas Biorefinery concepts are being classified based on feedstock, type
and other non-renewable energy and chemical sources (Liu S, et of technology, status of technology (first- and second-generation
al., 2011). biorefinery), and intermediate (syngas platform, sugar platform,
• Biorefineries are integrated bio-based industries, using a variety of etc.) [3].
technologies to produce chemicals, biofuels, food and feed
ingredients, biomaterials (including fibres) and power from raw Seven different biorefinery concepts are presented as follows :
biomass materials (EU Biorefinery Euroview, 2007). • Conventional Biorefineries (CBR)
• Biorefinery is the efficient use of the entire potential of raw materials • Green Biorefineries (GBR)
and by-streams of the forest-based sector towards a broad range • Whole Crop Biorefineries (WCBR)
of high value-added products (by cooperation in between chains) • Lignocellulosic Feedstock Biorefineries (LCFBR)
(Biorefinery Taskforce FTP, 2007). • Two Platform Concept Biorefineries (TPCBR)
• A biorefinery is an integrated cluster of bio-industries, using a • Thermo Chemical Biorefineries (TCBR)
variety of different technologies to produce chemicals, biofuels, • Marine Biorefineries (MBR)
food ingredients, and power from raw biomass materials
(Europabio, 2007). Conventional Biorefineries (CBR): Many existing industries fall under
• Definition of biorefinery within the framework of IEA Bioenergy the category of conventional biorefineries: the sugar industry (beet,
Task 42 : cane), the starch industry (wheat, cassava, potato), the vegetable
“Biorefinery is the sustainable processing of biomass into a spectrum of oils industry (soy, rape seed), the feed industry, the food industry,
marketable products and energy” - This definition had been used as the pulp and paper (forest) industry, the (petro) chemical industry,
the framework for the BIOPOL final report and Status Report and the conventional biofuel industry (biodiesel, bioethanol,
Biorefinery 2007 [2, 3]. With this definition, biorefineries are biogas). However, these industries concentrate on producing their
expected to supply a wide range of bio-based products and energy main products, and no great efforts have yet been made to produce
in a socioeconomically and environmentally sustainable manner. a broad spectrum of other value-added products such as
The mentioned definitions include the following key words : biochemicals or biofuels. Thus, this type of biorefinery does not
- Biorefinery: concepts, facilities, processes, cluster of industries meet the definition of the new biorefinery concept. In many cases,
an extension of a conventional biorefinery will form the basis for the

International Journal of biomass & renewables Page 2

development of one of the newer six types of biorefineries (see involved platforms, products, and feedstocks. Some examples of
Table 1). classifications are:
• ´C6 sugar platform biorefinery for bioethanol and animal feed
Table 1. Summary of characteristics of the biorefinery concept from starch crops´
• ´Syngas platform biorefinery for FT-diesel and phenols from straw´
Predominant Phase of • ´C6 & C5 sugar and syngas platform biorefinery for bioethanol,
Concept Type of feedstock
technology development
FT-diesel and furfural from sawmill residues´
wet biomass: green pretreatment, pressing,
Green
grasses and green fractionation, Pilot Plant (and
Biorefineries
crops, such as separation, digestion R&D)
(GBR)
lucerne and clover An overview of current platforms, products, feedstocks and
Whole Crop
whole crop (including dry or wet milling, conversion processes is given in Fig. 2. This system is expected to
straw) cereals such biochemical Pilot Plant (and
Biorefineries
(WCBR)
as rye, wheat, and conversion Demo) evolve as new technologies are developed and additional platforms
maize
Ligno pretreatment, chemical
are defined.
lignocellulosic-rich
Cellulosic & enzymatic
biomass: e.g. straw, R&D/Pilot Plant
Feedstock hydrolysis,
chaff, reed, (EC), Demo (US)
Biorefineries fermentation,
miscanthus, wood
(LCFBR) separation
combination of sugar
Two Platform platform (biochemical
Concept conversion) and
all types of biomass Pilot Plant
Biorefineries syngas platform
(TPCBR) (thermochemical
conversion)
thermochemical
Thermo conversion:
Chemical torrefaction, pyrolysis, Pilot Plant (R&D
all types of biomass
Biorefineries gasification, HTU, and Demo)
(TCBR) product separation,
catalytic synthesis
aquatic biomass: cell disruption, product
Marine
microalgae and extraction and R&D (and Pilot
Biorefineries
macroalgae separation Plant)
(MBR)
(seaweed)

2.2.2. Biorefinery classification system by

IEA Bioenergy Task 42

IEA Bioenergy Task 42’s approach to biorefinery classification Fig. 2. Overview of the biorefinery classification system
considers four main features, which are able to identify, classify and
describe the different biorefinery systems: platforms, products,
feedstocks, and conversion processes [4], (Fig. 2).
3. Current Status and Developmental Trends
The platforms (e.g., C5/C6 sugars, syngas, biogas) are intermediates of Biorefineries
that are able to connect different biorefinery systems to their
processes. The number of involved platforms is an indication of the According to the literature, the current status of biorefineries in
system complexity. The two biorefinery product groups are energy Europe and the United States (USA) is used as the global standard.
products (e.g., bioethanol, biodiesel, and synthetic bio-fuels) and This part provides an overview of both existing and planned
material products (e.g., chemicals, materials, food and feed). biorefinery facilities and a description of pilot and demonstration
Feedstocks can be grouped as either energy crops from agriculture biorefinery projects in Europe and the USA, as biorefinery is still a
(e.g., starch crops, short rotation forestry) or biomass residues from novel concept for the rest of the world.
agriculture, forestry, trade and industry (e.g., straw, bark, used
cooking oils, waste streams from biomass processing). Concerning
conversion processes, the classification system identifies four main 3.1. In Europe
groups, including biochemical (e.g., fermentation, enzymatic
conversion) [indicated in Fig. 2 as orange squares], thermochemical Information from the BIOPOL and BIOREFINERY EUROVIEW projects
(e.g., gasification, pyrolysis) [yellow squares], chemical (e.g., acid [6], which was obtained through a survey based on a joint
hydrolysis, synthesis, esterification) [blue squares] and mechanical questionnaire that was developed in cooperation by the
processes (e.g., fractionation, pressing, size reduction) [white BIOREFINERY EUROVIEW (WP1 “State of the art of existing
squares]. The biorefinery systems are classified by quoting the biorefineries” and WP2 “State of the art of socioeconomic impacting

International Journal of biomass & renewables Page 3

factors”) and BIOPOL (WP2 “assessment of social and environmental shows that several Eastern European countries have high potential
implications” and WP4 “Review of current implementation status”) for biorefinery based on feedstock availability. The fact that no
project consortia, has been reported. The questionnaire was sent to biorefineries or biorefinery-related R&D, pilots and demonstration
2800 industrial stakeholders in 16 EU countries plus Norway, projects were identified in one of these countries seems to imply
Switzerland and the USA. A total of 110 returned questionnaires that in addition to feedstock availability, other factors such as a
from 11 countries were used for mapping and further analysis. In good infrastructure and the presence of petrochemical industries
the survey, from a total of 110 industrial sites in Europe, there were are required for the development of biorefinery plants.
34 existing or planned biorefineries. These biorefineries are based
on different concepts from cereal biorefinery, whole crop
biorefinery, oilseed biorefinery, green biorefinery, lignocellulosic
feedstock / forest-based and lignocellulosic biorefinery, and
multiple feed / integrated biorefinery as defined in the BIOPOL and
EUROVIEW projects. The majority of the identified biorefineries are
located in Western Europe (23), followed by Northern (8) and
Southern Europe (3). No existing biorefineries were identified in the
Eastern EU countries (Fig. 3). Additionally, the majority of the
identified biorefinery-related R&D, pilots and demonstration
projects take place in Western Europe (28), followed by Northern
Europe (16) and Southern Europe (1). No biorefinery-related R&D,
pilots, and demonstration projects were identified in the Eastern
European countries.

Approximately 75 % of the biorefinery sites are located within an

area comprising Northern France, Germany, Denmark, Belgium, the
Netherlands, and the UK. These six countries have a variety of
suitable feedstocks and an intensive (petro) chemical industry. The
mapping results confirm a positive correlation between existing
and planned biorefineries and the occurrence of chemical
industries, biofuel industries and agro-industries in mainly the
starch and sugar sectors, due to the availability of the wheat and
sugar beet feedstocks. Fig. 3. Existing or planned biorefineries in Europe

Oilseed biorefineries seem currently less developed in the EU27+, in

spite of a large production of oil seed crops that seem to be used
mostly for biodiesel production. To date, a substantial number of 3.2. In the United States
biorefinery plants and projects using a range of feedstocks are
operational in the EU27+ or can be expected to be realised in the
short term.

A relatively high number of green biorefineries using grass as

feedstock (7) was identified, given that grass can be considered a
second-generation feedstock that requires innovative processing
technology. Furthermore, a substantial number of current and
planned lignocellulosic feedstock biorefineries (11) were identified
that are positively correlated with the availability of wood
(including forestry residues) and straw. Based on feedstock
availability, there is a large potential for the expansion of these
advanced concepts.

The sites with more than one colour relate to multiple feed / Fig. 4. Location of Integrated Biorefinery Projects
integrated biorefineries, according to the EUROVIEW definition. The Receiving DOE Funds [7]
mapping of the availability of specific feedstocks in the EU27+

International Journal of biomass & renewables Page 4

The U.S. is the leading country in the promotion of deploying
biorefineries. The U.S. biorefinery initiative has been established in a
number of presidential directives and legislation. The following two
goals have been recently set [8]:

• The Advanced Energy Initiative (2006) established a goal to make

the prices of cellulosic ethanol competitive with those of corn
ethanol by 2012 (Bush 2006).

• The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 established a

renewable fuel standard requiring 36 billion gallons of
renewable fuels by 2022. This is nominally 15 % of total
petroleum use in the United States and nearly 25 % of imported
oil.

In the United States, four government agencies provide the bulk of

research funding through competitive grants: the U.S. Department
of Energy (DOE), the National Science Foundation (NSF), the U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the National Institutes of
Health (NIH). The DOE Biomass Program works in partnership with
industry to develop, build, operate, and validate integrated
biorefineries at various scales (pilot, demonstration, and
commercial)(Fig. 4).
Fig. 6. DOE projected production costs to make
ethanol competitive with petroleum by 2012

Figures 5 and 6 were produced from the US/DOE report and

websites [7, 9]. From 2007 to June 6, 2012, a total of 29 biorefinery
projects have received grants from the DOE for the purpose of
building facilities or plants (Fig. 5). These projects received
approximately 30 million USD of funding for the demonstration
plants and up to 80 million USD for building the commercial plants,
some of these plants being located with existing corn ethanol
plants or existing petroleum refineries. Approximately 82 % of the
projects (25 projects) use lignocellulosic feedstock to produce
ethanol, renewable fuels and other products via biochemical,
thermochemical, and hybrid conversion processes. Of the total
projects, 50 % (15 projects) have produced ethanol as the primary
product, and a biochemical conversion process is popularly
applied. So far, biofuels are considered to be the primary products
of biorefineries in the U.S. In 2008, the DOE had projected a cost
timeline for cellulosic ethanol to make it competitive with
petroleum by 2012 (Fig. 6). It was predicted that the production
cost for cellulosic ethanol would be at $1.33/gal in 2012 and would
Fig. 5. Integrated biorefinery projects receiving DOE funds drop to $1.2/gal in 2017. Currently, the U.S government has
provided an incentive of $1.01/gal for the production of
second-generation renewable fuels [8].

International Journal of biomass & renewables Page 5

4. Developmental Trends of Biorefineries [4, 10] numerous technical, strategic, commercial, and sustainable
challenges need to be overcome [1, 8].
New concepts of biorefineries involve producing a broader range of
materials and chemicals from the rich variety of biomasses. These  
biorefinery concepts are mostly in R&D, pilot or small-scale 5.1. Technical challenges
demonstration phases, which are far from commercialisation. New
biorefinery concepts are expected to be implemented in the market Technical challenges include covering feedstock yield, advanced
within a few years (2013-2020), and some biorefineries can be technologies for lignin utilization, enzyme improvements, microbial
expected to be introduced in a variety of market sectors within the cell factories, and processing and logistics:
next year (up to 2013) by upgrading existing industrial - Feedstock yield and composition of biomass. It is crucial to
infrastructures. However, current economic conditions (the credit improve the feedstock yield and the composition of biomass for
crisis and recessions in parts of the global economy) could severely optimal conversion efficiency. This involves plant genomics,
slow down this market implementation. breeding programs and the chemical engineering of desirable
traits. By making feedstock more robust, further improvements
For the successful market implementation of an integrated can be made to the economics and security of feedstock
biorefinery concept, all process unit operations must be technically availability around the year.
mature, and the full biomass-to-products chain must have no - Advanced technologies for lignin utilization. Lignin waste is the
adverse environmental impacts and be economically profitable. major residue from biofuel plants, since lignin constitutes up to
Except in cases where organic residues are used as feedstock, 30 % of the weight and 40 % of the energy value of biomass. Up
biomass production should be part of the development and to date this lignin is simply exploited by combustion to generate
implementation of integrated biorefinery concepts. Specific energy for the plants. Due to its chemical structure, a phenolic
biomass crops are being developed to produce a maximum number hetero-polymer, it can be converted to more value added
of products using a minimum number of inputs (e.g., fertiliser and products, such as: carbon fiber, adhesives, phenolic resin,
energy). Because of the variety of biorefinery concepts and the aromatics, etc. as useful materials and chemicals in many
variations in maturity of the composing sub-processes, a financial industries. The technologies for producing these products from
support framework should be long term, extending from R&D lignin have been researched and trial produced in some research
activities and continuing through pilot-plant activities, institutions, biorefineries. The advanced improvements in these
demonstrations, and the development of deployment strategies. technologies are inevitable to the success of biorefinery
industry.
Initiatives presented in this report follow a resource-based - Efficient enzymes. A related technical challenge is the need to
approach, where the potential products made from a particular develop more efficient and robust enzymes, particularly for the
feedstock are the focus. An alternative approach may be to design conversion of lignocellulosic material from a variety of feedstock
chemicals and materials together with their production methods such as corncobs, stover, wheat straw, bagasses, rice, and woody
that fit the application of the product in a backward integrated biomass. Additionally, utilisation of a larger part of the biomass
petrochemical industry. It is thought that while the resource-based will require new processes that allow for the conversion of
approach fits current petrochemical business and production materials to extract their maximum value.
models, the design-based approach will lead to a real transition in - Microbial cell factories. A further yield-related challenge is the
the areas of production and design of chemicals and materials. This need to develop microbial cell factories that produce a desired
backward integrated approach will be immediately applicable in product in a high yield and with high productivity. Further novel
specialty chemical markets, and there may be long-term heterogeneous catalysis technologies are also needed to
opportunities in bulk markets.  transform the chemical intermediates into commercial products.
- Processing and logistics. The second group of technical
The mix of market and governmental support for green materials challenges relates to the optimisation of feedstock processing
and chemicals and for bioenergy will be an important factor in and logistics. This includes a number of different areas, such as
determining the type and rate of deployment of biorefineries. developing densification techniques that allow the transport of
originally low-density feedstock at low cost, establishing
preservation techniques to control physical and chemical
modification of biomass during pre-conversion processing (i.e.,
5. How to Promote the Deployment of harvesting, storage, transportation), and setting up a bio-based
Commercial-scale Biorefineries product distribution network that can use the existing
infrastructure, e.g., using oil pipelines or upgrading petrol
To successfully implement commercial-scale biorefineries, stations to allow the distribution of a higher share of biofuels.

International Journal of biomass & renewables Page 6

5.2. Commercial and strategic challenges 6. Conclusion

The commercial challenges facing the industrialisation of Biorefineries are facilities that sustainably convert biomass into
bio-products fall into three main categories: issues with integration energy, chemicals, and materials. The main driving force for the
into existing value chains, funding difficulties and other challenges establishment of biorefineries is the call for sustainable
related to the uncertainty associated with a novel, unconventional development to ensure energy security, mitigate climate change,
field. There are bio-based products that are novel or that cannot and meet the endless demand of chemicals and materials.
easily be integrated into existing value chains; for example, Mandates and policies in each country also push to promote the
bioethanol can only be mixed into conventional fuel up to a volume implementation of biorefineries. To date, the biorefinery industry is
share of approximately 15 % without modification of a standard mainly in the pilot and demonstration stages. Considerable
engine. Other commercial hurdles include the inability to obtain a developmental work is underway, and new biorefinery concepts
price premium for bio-based products when compared to are expected to be commercially deployed by 2020. The
conventional petroleum-based products and insufficient, uncertain deployment of new biorefinery concepts based largely on
public incentives. lignocellulosic feedstock will need to rely on the technical maturity
of a range of processes to produce materials, chemicals, and energy.
The mix of market and governmental support for green materials
5.3. The sustainability challenge and chemicals and for bioenergy will be an important factor in
determining the type and rate of deployment of biorefineries. To
The motivations for switching to the production of bio-based promote the implement of new biorefinery concepts, the
products include the conservation of resources and environment important roles of various stakeholders, nongovernmental
protection; therefore, the implementation of biorefineries must not organisations, and governments in the industrialisation process of
jeopardise the environment. The following issues are of the most biorefineries are indispensable.
concern: land-use change and its effect on GHG emissions and food
security.
- Direct land-use change (DLUC) occurs if feedstock for biorefinery References
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International Journal of biomass & renewables Page 8

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