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Journal of Biotechnology & Biomaterials | ISSN: 2155-952X | Volume: 8
3
rd
World Biotechnology Congress
December 03-04, 2018 Sao Paulo, Brazil
Thermo-Biorrefineries: A promising concept for production of bio-electricity, 2
nd
generation ethanol
and renewable chemicals in Portugal
Henrique M Baudel
and
Eduardo Diebold
America Biomass Technologies, Brazil
B
ioelectricity production from woody wastes has been pointed out as a promising way to mitigate risks of fire incidence and
propagation within forest plantations in Portugal along the most dry and hot periods of the year. Nevertheless, consistent
price reductions resulting from the increasing availability of electricity, including cheaper sources such as solar energy has
limited the economic feasibility of small and medium-scale thermo-electricity (only) units in Portugal. In this scenario, the
adoption of a biorrefinery concept has emerged as an interesting alternative to improve and increase the economic envoltory
of the biomass-to-electricity activity. Additionally to the bio-electricity itself as product, a biorefinery constituted by integrated
plants and processes deliveriesmultiple products from lignocellulosic biomasses, thusmaking feasible the economic exploitation
of a myriad of low-value agrondustrial wastes. In principle, different biomass components can be converted into sugars and
other carbon-rich products, which in turn can be transformed into high-valued chemical products and high-volume biofuels,
while generating bio-electricity and process heat for self-consumption and commercialization. In this scenario, the high-value
products enhance profitability, the high-volume fuels contribute to support energy needs and the power production reduces
costs while avoiding greenhouse gas emissions. Hence, the biorefinery concept envisages the maximization of the energy-value
derived from the biomass feedstock at minimal impact to the environment. This paper describes the concept, technologies
and economics related to the Thermo-Biorrefineries (TBR), which are integrated plants that produce bio-electricity, second-
generation ethanol and chemicals using low-cost and abundant lignocellulosic biomasses such as eucalyptus wastes as
feedstocks. The mentioned Thermo-Biorefinery (TBR) concept has been built on two different biomass-to-products platforms.
Basically, the "sugar platform" is based on chemical and biochemical conversion processes, particularly the fermentation of
C
5
-sugars extracted from the hemicelluloses, while the "carbon platform" is based on the thermal conversion of the cellulignin
fractions into bio-electricity and other valuable products.
Biography
Henrique Baudel has completed his PhD in Environmental Sciences from University of Concepción (Chile), Chemical Engineering from Federal University of
Pernambuco (Brazil) and Postdoctoral studies from Lund University (Sweden). He works as P&D and Technology director of America Biomass Technologies, a
premier chem and biotech company. His publications reach more than 50 works including papers in journals and proceedings, patents and specialised technical
reports. He has been working as supervisor of research works at both academia and industry, as well as serving as reviewer and editorial board member of repute.
hbaudel@americabiomasstechnologies.comHenrique M Baudel et al., J Biotechnol Biomater 2018, Volume: 8
DOI: 10.4172/2155-952X-C7-107