Biorefinery ethanol upgrading: Opportunities and challenges

Economics and global warming potential of a commercial-scale delignifying biorefinery based on co-solvent enhanced lignocellulosic fractionation to produce alcohols, sustainable aviation fuels, and co-products from biomass

“…We recognize both alcohols as ''bridging fuels'' to a low carbon economy, but also see them as highly relevant fuel intermediates for further upgrading to more advanced hydrocarbon fuels used in aviation and heavyduty vehicles. Alcohol upgrading serves to supply paraffinic sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) fraction, [22][23][24][25] while lignin upgrading focuses on synthesizing olefinic or napthenic SAF fraction. [26][27][28] Apart from the practical applications of either ethanol or isobutanol, there is great interest in moving towards 2nd generation feedstocks over conventional crops, such as starch and sugarcane, in view of the forecast gains in terms of environmental impact.…”