Valorizing the decentralized biomass production chain for advanced biofuel production: development and evaluation of thermochemical routes integrated with biomass production and biochemical routes

Abstract

This project aims to explore the synergies between biomasses production, diversification and logistics of defined value chains for the production of advanced biofuels (with a special focus on aviation biofuels) via thermochemical and biochemical conversion routes. Gasification of sugarcane bagasse, other biomasses and intermediate energy carriers is an important technological route to advanced biofuels production via Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. The biomass availability on sparse areas and the large dependence on scale for industrial investments on thermochemical plants might make economically impracticable the production of advanced biofuels through this route. To overcome the scale issues associated with agricultural production, biomass transportation and industrial conversion plants, decentralized units based on technologies such as pyrolysis, can be used to process raw biomasses in order to produce intermediate energy carriers. These pyrolysis plants, acting as energy densification units, would make possible the existence of large-scale gasification and upgrading plants to produced advanced biofuels. Another route, based on the biochemical processes, dedicated to the valorization of second generation residues (lignin rich streams) through integration with thermochemical plants, including advanced biofuel production is also considered in this project. BioValue is a Brazilian consortium proposal completely aligned with the twinning European consortium (BECOOL) and takes advantage from the synergies and complementarities of know-how and experiences of Brazil and EU on biomass and advanced lignocellulosic biofuels production. The aims of the BioValue proposal are: (i) development of new agricultural systems, considering crop diversification and lignocellulosic residues for advanced biofuels production; (ii) biomasses logistics and efficient conversion processes, including biochemical and thermochemical routes; (iii) integrated technical, economic, environmental and social sustainability assessments of the whole value chains. (AU)