HOME

By


Welcome to the BioRefineries Blog
Bioeconomy / Circular economy 
Renewable fuels, chemicals and materials
Sustainability / Carbon negative / Climate positive
Innovation 


BIOREFINERY PLATFORMS   











Popular Posts

Glucaric acid biorefineries

By
Image
Publication date: 14/12/2015 Last update: 24/05/2017 Description 1,2,3,4 D-Glucaric acid, also called saccharic acid, is a chemical compound with formula C 6 H 10 O 8 and member of a large family of molecules known as oxidized sugars. It is a naturally occurring aldaric acid, typically found in small amounts in a variety of fruits and vegetables. It is a highly functionalized compound with four chiral carbons and a plethora of reaction pathways. Its commercial potential was unveiled in the report “Top Value Added Chemicals from Biomass” from the Department of Energy of USA which described its use as a building block for a number of polymers, including new nylons and hyperbranched polyesters. Process technologies 1,3,4,5,6,7,8 The synthetic preparation of D-glucaric acid dates back to a report of Sohst and Tollens (1888) who carried out the nitric acid oxidation of D-glucose to D-glucaric acid. Current methods for its production are based on this process and in...
Read more

USA’s first bagasse-based biorefinery will deploy Praj’s Enfinity technology

By
Image
Type of post: NEWS. Praj Industries has announced that its Enfinity technology will be deployed to produce ethanol and other co-products in what would be USA’s first sugarcane bagasse based biorefinery. Press release: “ Praj’s 2G Ethanol Technology for USA’s First Ever Bagasse-based Bio-Refinery ”, 3/9/2019. Figure 1. The feedstock of the biorefinery promoted by Omega Energy USA and Lasuca Sugar will be sugarcane bagasse The biorefinery is being jointly promoted by Omega Energy USA (a developer of renewable energy projects headquartered in Florida) and Lasuca Sugar (a producer of cane sugar based in Louisiana). The second one will supply bagasse feedstock. The promoters have issued a formal letter confirming their interest to engage Praj for developing the design and project program for a cellulosic ethanol biorefinery in USA. Lasuca and Omega Energy are in the process of completing necessary formalities for the project. Location Cane-sugar belt o...
Read more

Green Biologics shuts down its Minnesota biorefinery

By
Image
Type of post: NEWS. Bad news from the biobased chemical sector. Green Biologics Ltd  (GBL) has announced through a succinct press release on its website that it is shutting down its Little Falls (Minnesota) biorefinery: “After a detailed review, the Board of Green Biologics Limited (GBL) has concluded that it is not possible to secure funding to enable it to continue with its plan to build up sales and production levels of renewable butanol and acetone at the Group’s Little Falls, Minnesota plant to the point of cash break-even. Accordingly, given this withdrawal of financial support, the Board and Managements of its subsidiary companies, Green Biologics, Inc., and Central Minnesota Renewables LLC have commenced an orderly closure of operations and wind-down of those corporations for and subject to any actions by their creditors. In the short term the Board of GBL will be considering strategic options for the future of GBL.”. Figure 1. GBL plant in Little Falls Bac...
Read more

Biobased acrylic acid

By
Image
Versión en Español Type of post: Fact sheet. Series: Biobased chemicals – Organic acids. Publication date: 05/05/2021. Last update: 05/05/2021. Description - Organic acid with 3 carbon atoms. - It is a clear, colourless, corrosive liquid with a characteristic acrid or tart smell. - Other names: prop-2-enoic acid. Applications - Formation of homopolymers or copolymers which are used in the manufacture of various adhesives, coatings, diapers, detergents, paints, plastics and textiles. The main use of crude acrylic acid is the generation of acrylate esters, followed by the production of polyacrylic acid, used mostly in superabsorbent polymers. - Chemical intermediate in multiple industrial processes. Conventional petrochemical route - Cracking of fossil naphtha to produce propylene / Oxidation of propylene. Main biobased routes - [3-HPA via] Fermentation of sugars to produce 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3-HPA) / Dehydration of 3-HPA. - [Biobased naphtha via] Cracking of biobased naphth...
Read more

Nanocellulose biorefineries – A biomaterial with unparalleled perspectives – 2nd part: Cellulose NanoCrystals (CNC)

By
Image
Publication date: 22/04/2019. Last update: 22/04/2019. Introduction See “ Nanocellulose biorefineries – A biomaterial with unparalleled perspectives – 1st part: Introduction ”. Shape and dimensions             Shape: Elongated. In the literature, they are compared with rice grains, rods, spindles and whiskers. Dimensions: Typically, 4-15 nm in width and 50-500 nm in length. Figure 1. CNC produced by Blue Goose Biorefineries (taken from Blue Goose Biorefineries website). Width: 9–14 nm. Length: 100–150 nm. Properties - Abundant, renewable and sustainable. - Biocompatible. - Electro-magnetic (charge surface). - High aspect ratio (length to width). - High temperature stability. - High strength (in line with high-performance synthetic material as Kevlar®). - High surface area. - Light weight. - Self-assembly. - Shear thinning / Unique rheological properties. - Versatile surface che...
Read more