Biochemical biorefinery: A low-cost and non-waste concept for promoting sustainable circular bioeconomy

• Published in: Journal of environmental management 2022-03, Vol.305, p.114333-114333, Article 114333
• Main Authors: Igbokwe, Victor C., Ezugworie, Flora N., Onwosi, Chukwudi O., Aliyu, Godwin O., Obi, Chinonye J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biocommodities; Biofuels; Biomass; Bioreactors; Circular bioeconomy; Fermentation; Integrated biorefinery; Life cycle assessment; Lignocellulosic biomass; Nigeria
• ISSN: 0301-4797; 1095-8630
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.114333

The transition from a fossil-based linear economy to a circular bioeconomy is no longer an option but rather imperative, given worldwide concerns about the depletion of fossil resources and the demand for innovative products that are ecocompatible. As a critical component of sustainable development, this discourse has attracted wide attention at the regional and international levels. Biorefinery is an indispensable technology to implement the blueprint of the circular bioeconomy. As a low-cost, non-waste innovative concept, the biorefinery concept will spur a myriad of new economic opportunities across a wide range of sectors. Consequently, scaling up biorefinery processes is of the essence. Despite several decades of research and development channeled into upscaling biorefinery processes, the commercialization of biorefinery technology appears unrealizable. In this review, challenges limiting the commercialization of biorefinery technologies are discussed, with a particular focus on biofuels, biochemicals, and biomaterials. To counteract these challenges, various process intensification strategies such as consolidated bioprocessing, integrated biorefinery configurations, the use of highly efficient bioreactors, simultaneous saccharification and fermentation, have been explored. This study also includes an overview of biomass pretreatment-generated inhibitory compounds as platform chemicals to produce other essential biocommodities. There is a detailed examination of the technological, economic, and environmental considerations of a sustainable biorefinery. Finally, the prospects for establishing a viable circular bioeconomy in Nigeria are briefly discussed. [Display omitted] •Integrated biorefinery is cheaper and more ecofriendly than petroleum refinery.•Integrated biorefinery enhances value-added products chain from LCB utilization.•LCB-derived inhibitory byproducts could serve as platform chemicals.•Integrated biorefinery supports circular bioeconomy via the zero-waste concept.•LCB and biowastes in Nigeria have prospects in biofuel and biochemical production.