Chemistry Reference
In-Depth Information
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CHAPTER 1
Green Chemistry and the
Biorefinery
ABBAS KAZMI
University of York, York, UK
Email: sk_abbaskazmi@yahoo.com
1.1 Introduction to the Biorefinery Concept
The core component of all biorefinery definitions is the conversion of biomass
into several products (materials, chemicals, energy, food and feed) and the
integration of various technologies and processes in the most sustainable way.
The definition developed by the International Energy Agency (IEA) Bioenergy
Task 42 Biorefineries has been widely accepted due to its general and broad
character:
.
''Biorefining is the sustainable processing of biomass into a spectrum of
marketable products and energy''
This definition includes the following key words:
biorefinery: concepts, facilities, processes, cluster of industries;
sustainable: maximising economics, minimising environmental aspects,
fossil-fuel replacement, socioeconomic aspects taken into account;
processing: upstream processing, transformation, fractionation, thermo-
chemical and/or biochemical conversion, extraction, separation, down-
stream processing;
