About this Research Topic
Biorefinery is generally described as a facility integrating the conversion of biomass into new chemicals, fuels, and other commercial products and commodities. Supported by the Circular Economy concept, the Biorefinery scope is enlarging also for the conversion of residues and wastes. Academia and Industries all over the world believe that Biorefinery will play a crucial role as the actual society moves towards a bio-based economy, considering the outstanding growth of population and the increased needs for food, energy, chemicals, materials, pharmaceuticals and other products. For the successful market implementation of an integrated Biorefinery, all process unit operations must be technically improved. Moreover, the sustainability of the biomass-to-products chain must be guaranteed and for that, new developments are required, mainly regarding the development of economically pro¬fitable bioprocesses with no adverse environmental impacts.
Forestry, food, marine and freshwater sectors are some of the most relevant players under the concept of Biorefinery and, until now, this having been largely unexplored. Experts all over the world are working on the development of new or improved processes in order to answer most of the problems attributed to Biorefinery failure. However, their efforts are not being recognized, thus compromising the development of new products included in the cosmetic, pharmaceutical, food, feed, medicine, and nutraceutical sectors. Considering the background provided in this Research Topic, our intention is to call the attention of academia, industry and society for the chemical richness that is being negligently ignored, not only by the producers of these residues and raw materials, but also by the players of the principal sectors of activity worldwide.
This Research Topic intends to present and discuss the relevant actions under development considering the theme of biorefinery. Here, a deep analysis and discussion around the three main ivory towers representing biorefinery is welcome, (i) raw materials and residues; (ii) new or improved processes; and (iii) new products for old markets and old products for new markets. Our overall vision is to contribute together with the experts on each field for the development of a multidisciplinary, comprehensive and integrated analysis for the efficient exploitation and valorisation of a large plethora of by-products, residues and underexplored raw materials present mainly on the agro-forest and marine sectors, within the Biorefinery strategy.
Forestry, food, marine and freshwater sectors are some of the most relevant players under the concept of Biorefinery and, until now, this having been largely unexplored. Experts all over the world are working on the development of new or improved processes in order to answer most of the problems attributed to Biorefinery failure. However, their efforts are not being recognized, thus compromising the development of new products included in the cosmetic, pharmaceutical, food, feed, medicine, and nutraceutical sectors. Considering the background provided in this Research Topic, our intention is to call the attention of academia, industry and society for the chemical richness that is being negligently ignored, not only by the producers of these residues and raw materials, but also by the players of the principal sectors of activity worldwide.
This Research Topic intends to present and discuss the relevant actions under development considering the theme of biorefinery. Here, a deep analysis and discussion around the three main ivory towers representing biorefinery is welcome, (i) raw materials and residues; (ii) new or improved processes; and (iii) new products for old markets and old products for new markets. Our overall vision is to contribute together with the experts on each field for the development of a multidisciplinary, comprehensive and integrated analysis for the efficient exploitation and valorisation of a large plethora of by-products, residues and underexplored raw materials present mainly on the agro-forest and marine sectors, within the Biorefinery strategy.
Keywords: Agro-forestry-marine sectors, raw materials, residues, processes, products
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