Lignocellulosic Biomass-Based Biorefinery: an Insight into Commercialization and Economic Standout

Abstract

Purpose of Review

The present review aims to provide the current status of lignocellulosic biomass–based biorefinery. Besides, this review discusses the key routes of lignocellulosic biomass commercialization through biomass types, availability, storage, transportation, and conversion. The economical overview has been presented by discussing several techno-economic articles and reasons for several setbacks in lignocellulosic-based biorefineries have been presented.

Recent Findings

Several techno-economic studies on lignocellulosic biomass have shown that the decisive factor in the scale-up of the lignocellulosic biomass-based industry is its complexity. With the change in lignocellulosic biomass type or complexity, its conversion at the pilot-scale would be halted which could lead to project or plant shutdown. In addition, other factors that play a crucial role in commercialization are biomass availability, transportation, and conversion cost.

Summary

This review indicates the important parameters involved in the techno-economic analysis required for the scale-up of lignocellulosic biomass. These findings would provide the reader with the cost distribution of biomass conversion, problems associated with changing the biomass type and complexity, and the importance of life cycle assessment to foresee the potential effect on scaling-up the lignocellulosic-based biorefinery.