IBRs are the most important integrated tools to achieve sustainable development with regard to BFs and BPs, particularly when using renewable raw materials (RRMs). A classical IBR processes biomass fed through two platforms, one biochemical and the other thermal; the single platform is not an IBR but an Elementary Bio-Refinery (EBR). However, IBRs still require extensive development with regards to its configuration, the optimization of each unit, and the overall efficiency of the processes. What’s more, two platforms IBRs are not the end of the story; more platforms using different kinds of biomass waste, energy crops, or microalgae (natural and synthetically produced from photo-bioreactors using CO2 as feedstock) are possible. These multi-platform IBRs have the potential to drastically increase the CO2 consumption of IBRs by utilizing internal and industrially generated CO2. They also expand the range of raw materials that can be utilized, for example agricultural wastes such as rice or wheat straw, cotton stacks, and corn Stover or energy crops such as Switch grass and Jatroupha, can be employed.
This Research Topic addresses IBRs both in the present state and future novel developments. A specific focus is on the application of a large number of RRMs in IBRs of different degrees of complexity and sophistication with regard to the configuration, ensuring sustainability by replacing non-RRMs by RRMs. When the raw material is changed, it typically is accompanied by a change in technology, and this opens the door for advanced research using Mathematical Modeling (MM), Computer Simulation (CS) and Experimental Verification (EV) to integrate chemical processes with biochemical techniques to achieve the optimal synergy of the two or more platforms IBRs. The overall aim is to be able to produce a wide range of BFs and BPs from a wide range of RRMs. The analysis of an IBR includes that of its optimal configuration, simple process optimization using Mass and Heat Balances (MHBs), and more advanced optimization using MM, CS and EV in a unified manner (e.g. physico-chemical or empirical models are created and then their accuracy is improved in a feedback loop with experimental data). Such optimization for each RRM is essential to achieve maximum efficiency of the particular IBR, while at the same time providing flexibility to convert any feedstock into power, heat and value-added products (BFs, BPs) in a sustainable way.
We aim to attract Original Research, Review, Mini-Review and Perspective articles to address different aspects related to IBRs of two or more platforms, including but not limited to:
• Comparative optimization of EBRs vs. the optimization of the overall IBR of 2+ platforms
• Optimization of the configuration, design and operation of multi-platforms IBRs.
• Simple analysis using MHBs, and the more advanced using MM, CS and EV
• Advantages, disadvantages, and properties of different RRMs.
• Novel catalysts, enzymes, and micro-organism selection for IBRs and their kinetic models
• Integration of membrane catalytic reactors, membrane bioreactors, and bio-catalytic reactors
• Digital control for complex multi-dimensional IBRs
• Implementation and plant design of multi-platform IBRs for the production of BFs and BPs to achieve sustainable development.
Keywords:
Integrated biorefineries, multiplatform biorefineries, renewable raw materials, sustainability, biomass processing, process optimization
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
IBRs are the most important integrated tools to achieve sustainable development with regard to BFs and BPs, particularly when using renewable raw materials (RRMs). A classical IBR processes biomass fed through two platforms, one biochemical and the other thermal; the single platform is not an IBR but an Elementary Bio-Refinery (EBR). However, IBRs still require extensive development with regards to its configuration, the optimization of each unit, and the overall efficiency of the processes. What’s more, two platforms IBRs are not the end of the story; more platforms using different kinds of biomass waste, energy crops, or microalgae (natural and synthetically produced from photo-bioreactors using CO2 as feedstock) are possible. These multi-platform IBRs have the potential to drastically increase the CO2 consumption of IBRs by utilizing internal and industrially generated CO2. They also expand the range of raw materials that can be utilized, for example agricultural wastes such as rice or wheat straw, cotton stacks, and corn Stover or energy crops such as Switch grass and Jatroupha, can be employed.
This Research Topic addresses IBRs both in the present state and future novel developments. A specific focus is on the application of a large number of RRMs in IBRs of different degrees of complexity and sophistication with regard to the configuration, ensuring sustainability by replacing non-RRMs by RRMs. When the raw material is changed, it typically is accompanied by a change in technology, and this opens the door for advanced research using Mathematical Modeling (MM), Computer Simulation (CS) and Experimental Verification (EV) to integrate chemical processes with biochemical techniques to achieve the optimal synergy of the two or more platforms IBRs. The overall aim is to be able to produce a wide range of BFs and BPs from a wide range of RRMs. The analysis of an IBR includes that of its optimal configuration, simple process optimization using Mass and Heat Balances (MHBs), and more advanced optimization using MM, CS and EV in a unified manner (e.g. physico-chemical or empirical models are created and then their accuracy is improved in a feedback loop with experimental data). Such optimization for each RRM is essential to achieve maximum efficiency of the particular IBR, while at the same time providing flexibility to convert any feedstock into power, heat and value-added products (BFs, BPs) in a sustainable way.
We aim to attract Original Research, Review, Mini-Review and Perspective articles to address different aspects related to IBRs of two or more platforms, including but not limited to:
• Comparative optimization of EBRs vs. the optimization of the overall IBR of 2+ platforms
• Optimization of the configuration, design and operation of multi-platforms IBRs.
• Simple analysis using MHBs, and the more advanced using MM, CS and EV
• Advantages, disadvantages, and properties of different RRMs.
• Novel catalysts, enzymes, and micro-organism selection for IBRs and their kinetic models
• Integration of membrane catalytic reactors, membrane bioreactors, and bio-catalytic reactors
• Digital control for complex multi-dimensional IBRs
• Implementation and plant design of multi-platform IBRs for the production of BFs and BPs to achieve sustainable development.
Keywords:
Integrated biorefineries, multiplatform biorefineries, renewable raw materials, sustainability, biomass processing, process optimization
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.