R. VAN REE, J. SANDERS, R. BAKKER and R. BLAAUW, Wageningen University and Research Centre (WUR), The Netherlands and R. ZWART and B. VAN DER DRIFT, Energy Research Centre of The Netherlands (ECN), The Netherlands

Abstract: This chapter discusses the importance of biorefining for optimal valorisation of biomass in a sustainable way. The focus is on conventional and advanced biofuel-driven biorefineries co-producing transportation fuels and added-value products from biomass. A definition for biorefining is presented. A classification system, the current status and future trends of biorefineries are discussed.

Key words: biorefining, definition, biorefineries, classification, biofuels, biofuel-driven biorefineries, biomass value chains.

21.1 Introduction

21.1.1 Biofuel production processes

The production of biofuels for transport, as alternative for the conventional crude oil derived transportation fuels gasoline and diesel, has gained a lot of interest in the last ten to 15 years, as a result of both the general approach to become less dependent on politically unstable countries and the concern about the consequences of anthropogenic CO2 related global warming.

Both conventional biofuels (biofuels produced from crops that also could be used for food and feed production) and advanced biofuels (biofuels produced from non-food and non-feed crops) can be distinguished. Examples of advanced biofuels are: biochemically produced cellulosic ethanol, butanol and hydrogen, and thermochemically and catalytically produced Fischer-Tropsch diesel, methanol, dimethylether (DME), hydrogen, and synthetic natural gas (SNG). Also catalytically produced sugar derived furanics are examples of advanced biofuels for transport.