Lignocellulosic Biorefinery for Value-Added Products: The Emerging Bioeconomy

Susan Grace Karp^a,Eduardo Bittencourt Sydney^b, Adenise Lorenci Woiciechowski^a, Luiz Alberto Junior Letti^a, Júlio César de Carvalho^a, Luis Alberto Zevallos Torres^a, Gabriel Sprotte Kumlehn^a, Esteffany de Souza Candeo^b, Carlos Ricardo Soccol^a

Department of Bioprocess Engineering and Biotechnology, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil

Abstract

The replacement of oil by renewable resources and the supply of bio-based products are two premises of the emerging bioeconomy. In this context, lignocellulosic biorefineries are core facilities and essential targets of technological development. Biofuels and platform chemicals are the main value-added products derived from lignocellulosic biomass. Although obtaining chemicals by the fermentation of lignocellulosic biomass-derived sugars is still in its early stage, second-generation bioethanol production at a large scale is a reality nowadays. Bio-oil from the fast pyrolysis of biomass can be directly used as an energy carrier, as a source of chemicals, or converted into synthetic fuels after gasification. This chapter provides an overview of lignocellulosic biomass markets and supply chains, techno-economic aspects of processing and conversion technologies, and potential uses for the fractions of vegetable biomass—cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin within the circular bioeconomy. The current status of lignocellulosic biorefineries, with a special focus on the conversion technologies and the bio-based products, is presented.

Keywords: Biomass, Lignocellulosic residues, Bio-oil, Bioethanol, Bio-based chemicals.