An overview of the enzyme potential in bioenergy-producing biorefineries

Abstract

Biorefineries are considered as an integrative thinking that focuses on the possibility of obtaining as many added-value products as technically and economically feasible. However, in practice most biorefineries comprise only enzymatic or chemical pretreatment followed by biofuel generation. The drop in oil prices may menace the development of this young industry, as has happened before in history. This has become a fundamental reason for which the biofuel industry should not consider only biofuels production, but enzyme and non-fuel based chemicals as well. Hence, this work aims at overviewing the most important enzymes involved in biotechnological processes and to describe their role in biorefineries. Bioethanol, biogas and biodiesel biorefineries are overviewed, along with the integrated and industrial types. Finally separation and purification processes in biorefineries are discussed. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry