About this Research Topic
This Research Topic is part of a series: Volume I.
Conversion-ready feedstocks refer to industrial-scale feedstock resources with chemical and physical properties that meet the design specifications of biorefinery handling and conversion systems; in other words, all preprocessing, blending sorting, fractionation, drying, or any steps that are taken to enhance quality or sort materials prior to delivery at the biorefinery gate. As such, there is a need to fully recognize the magnitude of biomass variability and uncertainty, as well as the cost of failing to account for variability and uncertainty of carbon-based resources. A paradigm shift is needed, from biorefinery designs using raw biomass feedstocks to advanced feedstock supply systems that deliver conversion-ready feedstocks.
Realizing the benefits of this concept will require information on biomass characteristics. Fortunately, advances in data analytics, computational power, and sensor innovations are creating new levels of access to vital information that directly impacts conversion efficiency and biorefinery operability. For example, image analysis is introducing the ability to monitor biomass features that impact handleability while near infrared and Raman spectroscopies are providing chemical data that determine product yield and purity – in real time. As a result, the pathway to new insight into the complex relationships between feedstock properties and process performance is rapidly emerging and will introduce new scenarios for production of conversion-ready feedstocks. In this Volume 2, we encourage contributions that highlight original research in this arena, as well as innovations in science and engineering associated with mitigating the challenge of biomass variability in providing a consistent, high-quality feedstock for different biorefinery platforms.
Conversion-ready feedstocks refer to industrial-scale feedstock resources with chemical and physical properties that meet the design specifications of biorefinery handling and conversion systems; in other words, all preprocessing, blending sorting, fractionation, drying, or any steps that are taken to enhance quality or sort materials prior to delivery at the biorefinery gate. As such, there is a need to fully recognize the magnitude of biomass variability and uncertainty, as well as the cost of failing to account for variability and uncertainty of carbon-based resources. A paradigm shift is needed, from biorefinery designs using raw biomass feedstocks to advanced feedstock supply systems that deliver conversion-ready feedstocks.
Realizing the benefits of this concept will require information on biomass characteristics. Fortunately, advances in data analytics, computational power, and sensor innovations are creating new levels of access to vital information that directly impacts conversion efficiency and biorefinery operability. For example, image analysis is introducing the ability to monitor biomass features that impact handleability while near infrared and Raman spectroscopies are providing chemical data that determine product yield and purity – in real time. As a result, the pathway to new insight into the complex relationships between feedstock properties and process performance is rapidly emerging and will introduce new scenarios for production of conversion-ready feedstocks. In this Volume 2, we encourage contributions that highlight original research in this arena, as well as innovations in science and engineering associated with mitigating the challenge of biomass variability in providing a consistent, high-quality feedstock for different biorefinery platforms.
Keywords: blending, preprocessing, Fractionation, drying, characterization, image analysis, spectroscopy, artificial intelligence
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
