Cited by 184Catalysis for Biomass ConversionBiofuel production and bioconversionBioeconomy and Sustainability Development

Chemicals from biomass: technological versus environmental feasibility. A review

Fiorentino, Gabriella, Ripa, Maddalena, Ulgiati, Sergio·2017·Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining

Abstract

The production of chemicals from renewable feedstocks is becoming an attractive area of investment for industries in the framework of a more sustainable economy. From a technical point of view, a large fraction of industrial chemicals and materials from fossil resources can be replaced by their bio‐based counterparts. Nevertheless, fossil‐based chemistry is still dominant because of optimized production processes and lower costs. The best approach to maximize the valorization of biomass is the processing of biological feedstocks in integrated biorefineries where both bio‐based chemicals and energy carriers can be produced, similar to a traditional petroleum refinery. The challenge is to prove, together with the technical and economic feasibility, an environmental feasibility, in terms of lower impact over the entire production chain. In this review, potential renewable substrates, conversion pathways, and target molecules are carefully investigated with reference to the most recent technological advancements. Potential environmental impacts and benefits over the life cycle of products are also reviewed. While an economic and technical feasibility can be, and sometimes has been already, reached, the same is not true yet for environmental feasibility, where several issues still need to be explored and the risk for burden shift is not negligible. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the opportunities and constraints related to the transition from petroleum to biomass chemistry and to draw a roadmap of the most sustainable technologies and promising biomass value chains, screening in parallel their environmental implications, toward a market implementation of bio‐based chemistry. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1002/bbb.1729

Cites

134 of 134 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Diacids and hydroxyl acids are key monomers for various commodity polyesters and polycarbonates, and serve as a platform for high-value added products by chemical and biological transformations.

    “They are not only key monomers for various commodity polyesters and polycarbonates, but also serve as a platform for a multitude of highvalue added products by means of chemical and biological transformations.77”

    From Catalysis as an Enabling Science for Sustainable Polymers (2018) · cites this paper as [77]

  • The conversion of renewable feedstocks to monomers typically involves a mechanical/physical pretreatment followed by multiple biological, chemical, or thermochemical processes.

    “The conversion typically involves a mechanical/physical pretreatment (milling, extraction, steam reforming), followed by multiple biological, chemical, or thermochemical processes.77”

    From Catalysis as an Enabling Science for Sustainable Polymers (2018) · cites this paper as [77]

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Authors
Fiorentino, G., Ripa, M., & Ulgiati, S.
Affiliations
  • Parthenope University of Naples (IT)
  • University of Napoli ‘Parthenope’ Napoli Italy
Corresponding author
Fiorentino, Gabriella
Venue
Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2016-11-03
Volume
11
Issue
1
Pages
195-214
ISSN
  • 1932-1031 (ISSN-L)
  • 1932-104X
OpenAlex
W2548727881
Cited by
184
References
134
Citations by year
2026: 17 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 25 · 2023: 22 · 2022: 17 · 2021: 21 · 2020: 19 · 2019: 22 · 2018: 21 · 2017: 8
FWCI
8.20
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Biofuels Bioproducts and Biorefining (publishedVersion)
  • CINECA IRIS Institutial research information system (Parthenope University of Naples) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Department of Sciences and Technologies of University of Napoli Parthenope (DSTE 250)
  • European Union Project EUFORIE - European Futures for Energy Efficiency
  • EU Horizon 2020 program (H2020-EE-2014-2-RIA)
  • School of Environment, Beijing Normal University
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Catalysis for Biomass Conversion
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Biofuel production and bioconversion
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › General Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Bioeconomy and Sustainability Development
Keywords
bio-based chemicals, biomass valorization, biorefinery, renewable raw materials, conversion pathways, life cycle assessment, environmental feasibility, economic feasibility, oil substitution, biomass value chains, green chemistry

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