In mid-April Georgia Tech's Renewable Bioproducts Institute hosted a mini-symposium discussing the challenges and potential solutions to integration at different scales and levels of abstraction.
 
Challenges Discussed:
-Technical Compatibility: Ensuring biomass-derived feedstocks are compatible with existing refinery processes without causing operational disruptions.
-Economic Viability: Balancing the costs of biomass processing and integration with the potential economic benefits.
-Environmental Impact: Addressing the environmental implications of biomass integration, including emissions and sustainability.
-Infrastructure Adaptation: Modifying existing refinery infrastructure to accommodate biomass feedstocks without significant capital investment.

Proposed Solutions:
-Advanced Hydroprocessing Techniques: Utilizing mild hydro treatment and esterification to make biomass-derived feedstocks compatible with refinery processes.
-Cost-Effective Precipitation Methods: Implementing efficient lignin extraction processes to reduce costs and improve economic viability.
-Green Hydrogen Utilization: Leveraging green hydrogen produced from electrolysis to minimize environmental impact.
-Strategic Infrastructure Investments: Identifying key areas for infrastructure adaptation to facilitate seamless integration of biomass feedstocks.
 
This workshop underscored the importance of collaborative efforts in advancing biomass integration, paving the way for a more sustainable and economically viable future in the refining industry.

To listen to the workshop: 
 
We’d like to share our thanks with our speakers for their insights:
Joseph Samac - Valorization of Forestry Side-stream

Ana Indes Torres - Biomass integration in Refineries with a Focus on System-Level Modeling and Optimization of Integration Strategies

Michael Reynolds - Advances in Catalysts for Feeds that Contain Blends of Seed and Tallow Oils

Nicholas Carlson Refinery Integration Anaysis: Pathways, Challenges, and Opportunities

Mike Griffin Producing Hydrocarbon Fuels from Woody Biomass via Catalytic Pyrolysis and Refinery Hydrotreating

Ryan Lively Separation of Bioderived Compounds Using Membrane Technology

RBI would love to hear from you on future topics you would like to hear us cover. Share your feedback with Executive Director Carson Meredith.