Lignocellulosic biorefineries: A multiscale approach for resource exploitation

Biomass can become the source for chemicals towards a sustainable production system. However, the challenges it presents such as the variety of species, their widespread and sparse availability, and the expensive transportation claims for an integrated approach to design the novel production system. Multiscale approaches have not been properly extended to biorefineryes design and deployment, due to the comprehensive experimental and modelling work they require. A systems perspective provides the systematic framework to analyze the availability and composition of raw materials across regions, how that affects process design, the portfolio of products that can be obtained by evaluating the strong link between the biomass features and the process design. The use of lignocellulosic materials requires for a multidisciplinary work, that must lead to new process engineers with technical competences in biology, biotechnology but also process engineering, mathematics, computer science and social sciences towards a sustainable process/chemical industry.

Automated summary

Biomass has the potential to be a sustainable source of chemicals, but the challenges it presents necessitate an integrated approach to design a novel production system. The use of multiscale approaches in biorefinery design and deployment has been limited due to the extensive experimental and modeling work required. A systems perspective provides a systematic framework for analyzing the availability and composition of raw materials, as well as the impact on process design and product portfolio. The use of lignocellulosic materials requires multidisciplinary work and the development of process engineers with technical competencies in biology, biotechnology, process engineering, mathematics, computer science, and social sciences for a sustainable process/chemical industry.