Integrated Biorefineries ─ Design, Analysis, and Optimization

Integrated Biorefineries: Design, Analysis, and Optimization examines how to create a competitive edge in biorefinery innovation through integration into existing processes and infrastructure. Leading experts from around the world working in design, synthesis, and optimization of integrated biorefineries present the various aspects of this complex process, capturing the state of the art in the advancing bioeconomy. The book defines an integrated biorefinery as a processing facility that transforms biomass into value-added products—from biofuels and biochemicals to food and pharmaceuticals. The chapters cover biorefinery product and process design, supply chains, process analysis, feedstocks, technologies, and policy and environmental analysis. They focus on second-generation feedstocks, including forestry resources, energy crops, agricultural residues, oils, and various waste materials.

With the growing interest in sustainability in general and in renewable resources in industrial facilities, biorefineries are likely to play increasingly significant roles and have greater economic, environmental, and societal impact. This book fills an information gap by presenting cutting-edge advances that can effectively guide engineers and decision makers in the synthesis, selection, design, analysis, and optimization of biorefineries.

Paul R. Stuart, Ph.D., is a professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Ecole Polytechnique of the University of Montreal, where he is the holder of the National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Environmental Design Engineering Chair. As an academic and consultant, Paul employs product and process design methodologies to develop business and technology plans for companies seeking to implement the biorefinery. Prior to joining academia, Paul held positions in leading consulting firms, working as a partner, company associate, as well as the director of process and environmental engineering. Paul is a Fellow of The Canadian Academy of Engineering, and a past president of the Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering.

Mahmoud El-Halwagi, Ph.D., is a professor and holder of the McFerrin Professorship at the Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station. His main research interests involve process integration, biofuels and integrated biorefineries, and sustainable process design, operation, and optimization. Dr. El-Halwagi is the author/co-editor of seven books and monographs and more than 200 refereed papers and book chapters. He has served as a consultant in the biofuels, chemical, energy, petrochemical, petroleum, pharmaceutical, and metal finishing industries.