Biorefinery true colors
Recently, I was searching for information to document a post when I ran into an interesting classification of biorefineries. It was based on colors that were assigned to different feedstocks. Some of the designations were familiar to me, others less so. I thought that it was a very intuitive way to learn the basics of raw materials in biorefining systems. This is why I have prepared this post about the “biorefinery true colors”.
Before starting to write, I looked
for other references of this classification and I only could find some presentations
of the same author: Lene Lange (Professor at Aalborg University and CSO of Barentzymes
AS). According to her, one can distinguish between five types of biorefineries
taking into account the feedstock1,2,3: Blue Biorefinery based on
marine biomass (fish waste and discard, algae); Brown Biorefinery based on
sludge and household waste; Green Biorefinery based on fresh green leaves and
grass; White Biorefinery (or Grey Biorefinery) based on agroindustrial
byproducts; Yellow Biorefinery based on straw, corn stover and wood.
Taking that classification as a
reference point, I would like to propose a whole color taxonomy for biorefining
systems (see Table 1 and Figure 1) that shows its variety and complexity in a
visual way. Suggestions to improve the classification are welcomed.
Table 1. Color taxonomy for biorefining systems according to their feedstock
|
|
Biorefinery
|
Feedstock
|
Black
Biorefinery
|
Insects
|
Blue Biorefinery
|
Aquatic biomass (algae, fish waste
and discard)
|
Brown
Biorefinery
|
Sludges from waste water treatment,
manure
|
Gold Biorefinery
|
Oil-based crops (rapeseed, soya,
palm oil…) and residues (animal fat, used cooking oil…)
|
Green Biorefinery
|
Green biomass (grasses,
immature cereals, plant shoots…)
|
Grey Biorefinery
|
Organic urban waste, agroindustrial
byproducts
|
Red Biorefinery
|
Seafood waste (crustacean shells)
|
White Biorefinery
|
Sugar (sugar
beet, sugar cane, sweet sorghum…) and starch (wheat, corn, rye…) crops
|
Yellow Biorefinery
|
Lignocellulosic crops (Miscanthus,
short rotation poplar and willow…) and residues (crop residues,
saw mill residues…)
|
Figure 1. Color taxonomy for
biorefining systems according to their feedstock
_________________________________________________________________________________
REFERENCES
1 Lene Lange: “The Nordic Blue
Bioeconomy: making value from upgrading marine side streams and waste”. Presentation
available online: http://cdn.norden2015.fo/media/1116/01_lange_value_adding_from_managing_residue_streams_and_harvesting_new_species_especially_algae.pdf
(accessed on 4th November 2016).
2 Lene Lange et al.: “Development
of the Nordic Bioeconomy: NCM reporting: Test centers for green energy
solutions - Biorefineries and business needs”. E-book, ISBN:
9789289344265.
3 Lene Lange: “Bioeconomy:
Potentials and Barriers”. Presentation available online: https://www.eiseverywhere.com/file_uploads/4b4a462174618650bcea70b522113e7b_LangeLeneAAU.pdf
(accessed on 4th November 2016).
