Sustainability analysis of biorefineries based on country socio-economic and environmental context: A step-by-step way for the integral analysis of biomass upgrading processes

A methodological approach to estimate the sustainability performance of biorefineries is proposed as a way to elucidate the best alternative to upgrade biomass under a specific context. This methodology is based on the estimation of technical, economic, environmental, and social metrics. The methodology provides flexibility to design biorefineries using knowledge-based or optimization approaches. The advantage of the optimization approach is the possibility to ensure the economic feasibility of a process configuration without repeating the dimensions analysis for different scenarios. Then, the sustainability index is proposed as an indicator to compare different biorefinery configurations wherever. An avocado case study was analyzed considering a superstructure based on the possible upgrading pathways at a small-scale level. The sustainability index for a biorefinery addressed to producing avocado oil, animal feed, biogas, and electricity was about 54%. This performance suggests the need of improving processing lines and proposing new products. Finally, the sustainability index is proposed as an indicator easy to calculate, analyze, and understand for stakeholders and shareholders (i.e., decision-making groups).

Automated summary

A methodological approach for estimating the sustainability performance of biorefineries is proposed, based on the evaluation of technical, economic, environmental, and social metrics. This approach allows flexibility in designing biorefineries using knowledge-based or optimization approaches. The sustainability index is introduced as an indicator to compare different biorefinery configurations. An avocado case study is analyzed, and the obtained sustainability index suggests the need for process improvement and the development of new products. The sustainability index is proposed as an easily calculable and understandable indicator for stakeholders and decision-making groups.