Second-generation biorefinery refers to the production of different types of biofuels, biomaterials, and biochemicals by using agri-based and other lignocellulosic biomasses as substrates, which do not compete with arable lands, water for irrigation, and food supply. From the perspective of transportation fuels, second-generation bioethanol plays a crucial role in minimizing the dependency on fossil-based fuels, especially gasoline. Significant efforts have been invested in the research and development of second-generation bioethanol for commercialization in both developing and developed countries.
1. Introduction
The global energy demand is seeing a significant escalation because of population growth and the industrial and economic progress seen in emerging nations like China and India. The current situation is characterized by growing concerns over greenhouse gas emissions, uncertainties relating to energy security, increasing fossil fuel prices, and geopolitical situations
[1]. Renewable energy sources such as solar, hydro, tidal, wind, geothermal, and biomass-based energy have garnered heightened interest as potential substitutes for nonrenewable sources
[2]. Nevertheless, the need for platform chemicals produced in petroleum refineries may only be substituted by renewable bioresources, namely refineries based on lignocellulosic biomass.
Lignocellulosic biorefineries are seeing a progressive global expansion whereby biomass is being used as a sustainable energy source
[3]. The term lignocellulosic biorefinery pertains to a kind of biorefinery known as a second-generation biorefinery, whereby lignocellulosic biomass is used as the primary feedstock material. Lignocellulose is a plentiful and carbon-neutral bioenergy resource in comparison to conventional fossil fuels. Massive potential exists for lignocellulosic biomass to serve as a partial substitute for fossil fuels, petrochemicals, and synthetic plastics in the energy and consumer product market and meet sustainability
[4]. The implementation of biorefineries offers a viable solution for the conversion of biomass into a diverse range of products, including high-value commodities and biofuels
[5].
Figure 1 illustrates the many pathways involved in the production of several by-products in a second-generation biorefinery using lignocellulosic biomass. The methodological approach for the valorization of lignocellulosic biomasses to second-generation liquid biofuels, especially bioethanol, is constituted of three major steps: (i) partial disintegration of the recalcitrant moieties of the feedstock through pretreatment techniques, (ii) production of monomeric sugar hydrolysate from the fragmentation of biopolymeric matrix, and (iii) fermentation of monomeric sugars into alcohols
[6]. Besides the fermentative or biochemical conversion, thermocatalytic routes can also be employed in the making of bioethanol to produce different platform chemicals like furfurals, phenolics, and levulinic acid.
Figure 1. Bioproducts obtained from second-generation biorefinery of lignocellulosic biomass.
The predominant practice for managing lignocellulosic biomass, especially in developing countries, is direct combustion, which leads to the inefficient use of resources and air pollution
[7]. Hence, the development of alternative technologies is essential to enhance the responsible usage, management, and valorization of lignocellulosic biomass
[8]. The use of lignocellulose as a potential substitute is supported by its abundant and diverse sources of raw materials, as well as the advantageous market prospects of its conversion products. The primary components of biomass, including cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, play a crucial role in the biorefinery system and significantly contribute to the overall expansion of the global bioeconomy
[9][10]. The generation of sugar monomers can be achieved using cellulose and hemicellulose, which are the polysaccharide constituents found in lignocellulosic biomass. The efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the bioconversion process are contingent upon the extent to which polysaccharides are effectively converted into monomeric sugars and subsequent fermentation to biofuels and biochemicals
[11].
The upscaling of biochemicals and biofuel production from lignocellulosic biomass continues to pose significant problems, necessitating the resolution of many fundamental operational obstacles. The primary obstacle to the efficient use of biomass is the intricate recalcitrance and structure of lignocellulosic biomass
[12][13]. The limited production of fermentable sugars could be attributed to the presence of lignin polymer and the common component of lignocellulosic feedstocks, which act as barriers to the nonspecific binding of hydrolytic enzymes
[14][15][16]. To address these concerns, it is necessary to include lignin removal as an additional pretreatment step. This step is essential for eliminating the refractory nature of lignocellulosic biomass and facilitating its further processing
[17]. Numerous pretreatment methods have been proposed over recent years to generate fermentable sugars effectively
[13][18][19]. However, pretreatment is a costly and energy-intensive process that has a significant influence on the economic competitiveness of lignocellulosic biorefineries. The economic feasibility of the biomass market and supply chain, the level of technological advancement of the utilized technologies, and the transition from laboratory-scale to pilot-scale processes are additional significant obstacles that hinder the commercialization of lignocellulosic biorefineries
[9][20].
The process of expanding biorefinery operations from a laboratory setting to a commercial scale is intricate and requires significant financial investment. Similarly, the optimization of energy efficiency and the effective management of waste by-products are imperative technical endeavors. Economic hurdles encompass several factors, such as substantial upfront investment requirements, the challenge of maintaining economic sustainability in the face of volatile oil prices, and the scarcity of available financing alternatives
[21]. The prioritization of environmental sustainability and the active involvement of local communities is of utmost importance
[22]. Developing countries have notable hurdles and roadblocks concerning the diversification of biomass sources, the scaling up of biorefinery technologies, and the commercialization of biofuels
[23]. The restricted spectrum of biomass sources is mostly attributed to the geographical diversity of feedstocks with a heavy reliance on agricultural residues and a lack of awareness of sustainable waste management practices
[24]. Addressing these obstacles and filling the gaps in knowledge is imperative to fully harness the promise of biofuels in the area and advance a sustainable, low-carbon energy trajectory.
2. Supply Chain and Availability of Second-Generation Biomass
The potential obstacles for second-generation biorefinery operations are illustrated in
Figure 2. Despite the higher initial investment required, biorefining proves to be a more economically efficient approach. Therefore, to ensure economic feasibility, the feedstock utilized in the biorefinery must be both cost-effective and readily accessible
[19]. Various categories of second-generation biomasses can be used as feedstock, contingent upon their availability at different times throughout the year. Nevertheless, the main challenge in the commercialization of second-generation biorefineries is the consistent affordability of seasonal feedstock
[25]. Considerable amounts of agricultural residues are generated in Asian countries such as China and India, presenting a viable opportunity for utilization as feedstock in biorefineries. According to a report by Datta et al.
[26], India produced over 685 million metric tons of agricultural waste in 2018. However, a significant portion of this trash, up to 87 million metric tons, was disposed of by open burning on the farm, which consistently led to poor regional air quality and smog formation lingering for several days.
Figure 2. Potential challenges in the commercialization of second-generation biorefineries.
The primary source of raw materials for biorefineries consists of the surplus biomass available within a specific nation. For instance, Canada’s predominant source of lignocellulosic biomass is derived from forest wastes since it contains 9% of the world’s forests, resulting in an annual production of around 52 billion liters of biofuels, primarily as bioethanol
[20]. As a result of the considerable availability of these sustainable biomass resources, countries such as the US and Brazil employ the residual corn stover and sugarcane bagasse. Furthermore, several biorefineries in the US rely on dedicated energy crops (e.g., switchgrass, elephant grass, hybrid poplar, etc.) as supplementary sources of second-generation feedstock due to their fast growth cycle, less-intensive cultivation practices, and high biomass yield
[27]. Within the European Union, a variety of biomass sources originating from forestry, fishery, and agriculture are employed to generate biomaterials and bioenergy
[28].
The determination of the minimum selling price for second-generation feedstocks in a biorefinery at a certain site is heavily influenced by the expenses associated with purchasing biomass from farmers as well as the costs incurred during its bulk transportation and storage. Hence, it is imperative to assess the financial implications associated with the preprocessing and postprocessing stages of biomass before proposing the establishment of a biorefinery. Furthermore, it has been observed that the expenditure on feedstock in second-generation biorefineries constitutes around 50% of the total production cost of bioethanol
[29]. Various types of biomasses can be utilized to address this issue, enabling uninterrupted availability of biomass resources at a single site throughout the year. To ensure the sustainable operation of biorefineries, the concept must incorporate facilities for the utilization of diverse feedstocks, hence mitigating dependence on a particular variety of biomass
[30]. The various stages involved in the supply chain of a biorefinery’s feedstock encompass sorting, transportation, storage, and biomass processing
[31]. The primary factor influencing the minimum selling price of the feedstock logistic network is predominantly the transportation expenses.
According to Usmani et al.
[20], the expenses related to the large-scale production of biofuels can vary between 40% and 60%, encompassing factors such as supply chain management and feedstock processing. The determination of biomass transit and storage duration is contingent upon the geographical establishment of the biorefinery. To mitigate the increased final minimum selling price and transportation expenses associated with feedstocks, the proximity of the feedstock availability to the biorefinery must be ensured
[32]. Potential options for outlining the feedstock supply chain include the development of biomass exchange models that can effectively meet both economic and environmental criteria, as well as the use of biomass torrefaction and densification techniques to reduce volume
[31]. The moisture content, expressed as a percentage, is a significant concern about the storage and transportation of biomass. Microbial growth within the moisture content range of 20% and above has the potential to affect both the biomass composition and selection of the conversion process. In addition, another barrier is the task of maintaining an equilibrium between the demand and supply of biomass to establish a steady bioresource market. The presence of competition among suppliers in the biomass market has the potential to mitigate fluctuations in prices.
3. Efficiency of Pretreatment and Enzymatic Saccharification
Along with the availability of biomass and the supply chain, choosing an effective pretreatment method for different feedstocks is a crucial challenge that must be taken into consideration. Biomass pretreatment is considered an essential step in the effective usage of second-generation biomass because it disintegrates the structure of biomass and separates the cellulose hemicellulose from the lignin matrix
[17]. Furthermore, it improves the efficiency of the final products followed by subsequent saccharification and fermentation processes. Several physicals (e.g., extrusion and milling), physicochemical (e.g., steam explosion and ammonia fiber expansion), chemical (e.g., alkalis, acids, and ionic liquids), and biological (e.g., bacteria, fungi, and enzymes) pretreatment methods have been developed for effective biomass pretreatment and hydrolysis
[13][19][20].
Table 1 lists the benefits and drawbacks of a few biomass pretreatment technologies. A significant problem in second-generation biomass pretreatment is the formation of high-solid loadings. Therefore, for easier processing, increased production and productivity and efficient feeding of biomass into various reactors with a high total solid concentration is crucial. Additionally, the economics of the process can be enhanced by recovering and reusing the chemicals and enzymes used in any pretreatment procedure.
Table 1. Comparison of second-generation biomass pretreatment methods.
Methods |
Mechanism |
Advantages |
Disadvantages |
Biological pretreatment |
-
Enzymes (laccases, peroxidases, etc.)
-
Microorganisms (fungi and bacteria)
|
|
-
Low energy intake
-
Requires no chemicals
-
Mild reaction conditions
|
|
Chemical pretreatment |
-
Organosolv method
-
Dilute sulfuric acid
-
Alkali bleaching
-
Ionic liquid
-
Deep eutectic solvents
|
|
|
-
Corrosive, toxic and hazardous material handling is required
-
More water is required
-
High amounts of wastewater are generated
-
Loss of lignin and hemicellulose is inevitable
|
Physicochemical pretreatment |
-
Torrefaction
-
Ammonia fiber expansion
-
Steam explosion
-
Wet oxidation
|
|
|
|
Pretreatment is often expensive and essential, accounting for roughly 30–50% of the cost of all equipment and 20–25% of all operational costs in second-generation biorefinery
[20][33]. Compared to the physical pretreatments, the chemical pretreatment method uses less energy. However, the use of different chemicals and certain digesters makes the process more expensive
[34][35]. The chemical reactions result in the production of toxic or inhibitory products (e.g., furfurals, organic acids, and phenolics), which need to be neutralized before saccharification and fermentation
[36]. Several researchers have suggested using techniques such as membrane evaporation, biochar-based adsorption, and ionic liquid-based pretreatment to remove inhibitors continuously while boosting production
[14][30][34][37].
In biological pretreatment, microorganisms and their hydrolytic enzymes are utilized to break down the structure of cellulose and hemicellulose into monomeric pentose and hexose sugars
[38][39][40]. Recently, biological pretreatment processes have been adopted over other pretreatment methods due to their low energy consumption, non-toxic by-product formation, and environmental friendliness
[41]. However, the slow rate of microbial growth and expensive enzymes are some key challenges in the biological pretreatment of biomass.
The following pretreatment requirements are anticipated for successful commercialization of the second-generation biorefineries: (i) avoiding severity in biomass pretreatment conditions, (ii) reducing the formation of toxic or inhibitory by-products, (iii) preventing the loss of hemicellulose sugars, (iv) ensuring less water and energy consumption, (v) seeking valorization of lignin, (vi) cost-effective recycling of catalysts, and (vii) seeking total utilization of by-products for a closed-loop and circular bioprocessing approach.
As mentioned earlier, upon biological pretreatment, the polysaccharides undergo enzymatic hydrolysis to yield monosaccharides. The expenses associated with enzymatic hydrolysis can constitute around 25% of the overall expenditures in a second-generation biorefinery
[9][20]. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to develop cost-effective enzyme combinations for the conversion of second-generation biomass into the desired products. The efficacy of enzymatic hydrolysis is impacted by various factors, including catalytic parameters, enzyme loading, hydrolysis duration, temperature, and pH
[42][43][44]. Different pretreatment approaches result in a diverse composition of biomass, necessitating the adoption of a tailored enzymatic combination for each unique biomass. On-site enzyme manufacturing technology has recently been proposed as an alternative to conventional off-site enzyme production facilities to reduce the price of hydrolytic enzymes
[45].
Several studies have examined the issues associated with scaling up, particularly in the context of second-generation biorefineries. These studies have suggested that an integrated approach to enzyme production is a recommended method
[46][47][48]. When second-generation biomass is utilized for both enzyme production and enzymatic hydrolysis, microorganisms can generate enzyme isoforms that exhibit enhanced substrate affinities
[49]. Consequently, market players involved in the production of enzyme combinations should be attracted to this area to facilitate the cultivation of specific fungal strains capable of synthesizing biomass-specific enzymes. Research efforts should be invested to engineer microorganisms capable of efficiently fermenting and hydrolyzing pretreated or minimally treated lignocellulosic biomass at levels of productivity that are adequate for industrial applications
[50][51][52].
4. Technology Scale-Up
The process of scaling up second-generation biorefineries to meet the increasing need for renewable energy products presents considerable challenges. In many cases, the parameters and operational conditions that have been adjusted at the laboratory scale may not exhibit the same level of efficiency when applied to demonstration-scale or pilot-scale operations
[27][48]. The identification of pertinent factors for transitioning from laboratory-scale to pilot-scale, and subsequently to commercial-scale is of utmost importance. Several important factors need to be considered when scaling up biorefineries for commercialization, including the development of techno-economic models, process optimization, technological advancements, lifecycle analysis, and the simulation of cost and risk mitigation
[28][53][54]. Furthermore, it is important to consider several other essential factors, such as minimizing waste discharge streams, limiting water consumption, efficiently utilizing resources (biomass, materials, equipment, and labor), appropriately integrating pretreatment and conversion techniques, diversifying products for the expansion of second-generation biorefineries
[55].
The sequence of expenses in biomass management and processing involves prioritizing operational expenditures followed by capital expenditures, as the latter determines the approach for scaling up operations. To mitigate the risk of a commercial failure, it is imperative to safeguard capital expenditures and actively seek opportunities to minimize it to the greatest extent possible. One potential strategy for reducing the initial expenses involved with establishing a greenfield site is to leverage the existing infrastructure within enterprises engaged in the production of biochemicals
[20].
It is also essential to consider the automation of second-generation biorefinery operations for effective commercialization. Automation can eliminate manual interventions, enhance operational efficiencies, and reduce energy use
[33][44]. The implementation of second-generation bioethanol facilities in future production is imperative due to several factors. These include the substantial production costs associated with such facilities, significant political and regulatory problems surrounding their establishment, as well as the technological hazards they provide, and their limited potential returns.
Besides automating the conversion processes, another major step can be taken in the commercialization of second-generation biofuels, which is the establishment of an integrated, flexible, and versatile conversion process. Unlike the “single product” biorefinery approach, the integrated biorefinery approach works in synergy to combine biological and thermochemical conversion processes to utilize resources and by-products and manage wastes to deliver multiple products. The commercialization of the integrated biorefinery process appears to be more attractive, feasible, and sustainable. For instance, in a bioethanol refinery, a major by-product is CO2 resulting from microbial metabolism, which can be reused as a non-polar solvent by converting it into supercritical CO2 fluid that can be used as an environmentally friendly extraction medium for food-grade extractions. Moreover, the major problem in a commercial bioethanol plant relies on the utilization of the residual or spent feedstock generated from the bioethanol making can be used as the feedstock for the production of carbon-rich bioproducts (e.g., biochar, hydrochar, and activated carbon) through the carbonization of the residual biomass, which can be used as a solid fuel that can be used in the distillers to for energy or can be used as a fertilizer in agriculture. This integration of the different bioconversion processes will feasibly achieve the commercial bioethanol refineries by establishing a multiproduct and zero-waste approach.
This entry is adapted from the peer-reviewed paper 10.3390/recycling9010019