biorefining
Converting organic feedstocks
Biorefining is the process of converting biological materials—crops, agricultural waste, algae—into fuels, chemicals, and other products.
The concept parallels petroleum refining but uses renewable biomass instead of fossil fuels: The facility specializes in biorefining corn stalks into ethanol.
Biorefineries aim to extract maximum value from organic feedstocks, producing everything from biofuels to plastics to animal feed.
Microbial sugar conversion
- hydrolysisWater-induced bond cleavage
- pretreatmentPreparatory processing step
- pyrolysisHeat-driven molecular breakdown
- gasificationConverting carbon materials to vapor
liquefaction · distillation · extraction · purification · filtration · fractionation · catalysis · separation
Living material in aggregate
- cellulosePlant wall polysaccharide
- ligninStructural plant polymer
- switchgrassNative prairie grass species
- wood chipsFragmented lumber pieces
algae · crop waste · straw · municipal waste · food waste · organic matter · plant material · sawdust
Fuel from living matter
- bioethanolFuel from fermented plants
- biodieselPlant-based motor fuel
- biogasFuel from anaerobic decomposition
- biochemicalsCompounds produced by organisms
Capable of restoration
- carbon-neutralNet-zero emissions state
- circular economyRegenerative resource management model
- greenhouse gas reductionLowering climate-warming emissions
- zero-wasteNo garbage produced
carbon footprint · environmental impact · industrial symbiosis · decarbonization · net-zero · sustainable development
Reaction-speeding proteins
- microorganismsMicroscopic living entities
- yeastFermenting fungus
- bacteriaNucleus-free single-celled organisms
- biosynthesisLiving production of molecules
genetic engineering · metabolites · proteins · amino acids · biochemical pathways · lipase · recombinant DNA · bioprocessing
Profit-driven market introduction
- scale-upProportional increase in magnitude
- pilot plantSmall test manufacturing operation
- capital investmentFunds for durable assets
- supply chainProduct delivery infrastructure
rural development · job creation · second-generation · licensing · feasibility study
fermentation
Microbial sugar conversion
- hydrolysisWater-induced bond cleavage
- pretreatmentPreparatory processing step
- pyrolysisHeat-driven molecular breakdown
gasification · liquefaction · distillation · extraction · purification · filtration · fractionation · catalysis · separation · depolymerization
biomass
Living material in aggregate
- cellulosePlant wall polysaccharide
- ligninStructural plant polymer
- switchgrassNative prairie grass species
wood chips · algae · crop waste · straw · municipal waste · food waste · organic matter · plant material · sawdust · hemp
biofuels
Fuel from living matter
- bioethanolFuel from fermented plants
- biodieselPlant-based motor fuel
- biogasFuel from anaerobic decomposition
biochemicals · bioplastics · biopolymers · lactic acid · biochar
renewable
Capable of restoration
- carbon-neutralNet-zero emissions state
- circular economyRegenerative resource management model
- greenhouse gas reductionLowering climate-warming emissions
zero-waste · carbon footprint · environmental impact · industrial symbiosis · decarbonization · net-zero · sustainable development
enzymes
Reaction-speeding proteins
- microorganismsMicroscopic living entities
- yeastFermenting fungus
- bacteriaNucleus-free single-celled organisms
biosynthesis · genetic engineering · metabolites · proteins · amino acids · biochemical pathways · lipase · recombinant DNA · bioprocessing
commercialization
Profit-driven market introduction
- scale-upProportional increase in magnitude
- pilot plantSmall test manufacturing operation
- capital investmentFunds for durable assets
supply chain · rural development · job creation · second-generation · licensing · feasibility study
biorefiningpetroleum refining
Crude oil distillation industry
oil refining · petrochemistry · fracking · oil extraction · coal gasification
biorefiningfossil fuel industry
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