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Transitioning from gasoline and petroleum‐based products to biofuels and green chemicals is a paradigm shift that will lead to the development of the bioeconomy. In this sense, the role of biorefineries in countries like Brazil is very important as the country generates a huge amount of second generation (2G) biomass every year and also has an attractive consumable market. However, technological innovations are still required to unleash the fullest potential of biomass conversion to biofuels and biochemicals, although successful examples are already a reality. For example, Amyris Inc. has developed renewable products for cosmetics (squalene), healthcare (artemisinin), and flavors / fragrances, and Suzano Papel e Celulose has developed sustainable technologies for the production of pulp and paper, and lignin‐derived adhesives (Ecolig). First‐generation ethanol in Brazil is an established source of transportation fuel but 2G ethanol production with low production costs is still a challenge at commercial scale, and companies like Raízen and GranBio continue making efforts to improve the economic feasibility of the adopted processes. In this context, the RenovaBio Policy launched by the Federal Brazilian Government in December 2017 aims to boost the production and utilization of biofuels and green chemicals in the country. Considering the matters mentioned above, this paper discusses the Brazilian biorefinery developments, technological advances, and current industrial scenario for the production of biofuels and chemicals. © 2021 Society of Industrial Chemistry and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Biodiesel has become increasingly important in recent years as a potential substitute for petroleum diesel. Different techniques and catalysts have been developed and widely investigated for biodiesel production via enzymatic biocatalysis. In this review, we conducted a bibliometric analysis to examine the global scenario and identify trends in lipase‐catalyzed biodiesel production in the past three decades. Challenges, advantages, disadvantages, and novel methods are also discussed. Publication frequency increased over the studied period, with China, Brazil, and India emerging as the most productive countries in terms of total number of publications and number of publications per journal. Papers from the field of bioenergy and bioprocesses received the highest number of citations. Keyword analysis revealed that immobilized lipase (magnetic nanoparticles and cross‐linked enzyme aggregates), different feedstocks, ionic liquids, ultrasonication, and metabolic engineering were relevant to lipase‐catalyzed biodiesel production. It is concluded that the research emphasis on biodiesel production is moving toward the use of non‐edible oils, ultrasound, and ionic liquids for achieving high‐enzyme activity and substrate conversion. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

Microbial biopolymers can replace environmentally damaging plastics derived from petrochemicals. We investigated biopolymer synthesis by the cyanobacteriumSpirulinastrain LEB 18. Autotrophic culture used unmodified Zarrouk medium or modified Zarrouk medium in which the NaNO3content was reduced to 0.25 g L−1and the NaHCO3content reduced to 8.4 g L−1or increased to 25.2 g L−1. Heterotrophic culture used modified Zarrouk medium containing 0.25 g L−1NaNO3with the NaHCO3replaced by 0.2 g L−1, 0.4 g L−1, or 0.6 g L−1of glucose (C6H12O6) or sodium acetate (CH3COONa). Mixotrophic culture used modified Zarrouk medium containing 0.25 g L−1NaNO3plus 16.8 g L−1NaHCO3with the addition of 0.2 g L−1, 0.4 g L−1, or 0.6 g L−1of glucose or sodium acetate. The highest biopolymer yield was 44% when LEB 18 was growing autotrophically in media containing 0.25 g L−1NaNO3and 8.4 g L−1NaHCO3.

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