Biomass utilization as chemical building blocks in Central Europe

Advanced biofuels produced from lignocellulosic biomass offer an exciting opportunity to produce renewable liquid transportation fuels, biochemicals, and electricity from locally available agriculture and forest residues. There is a great economical potential in the utilization of agricultural lignocellulosic wastes (e.g. corn stalk, straw and wood residues) in Central European countries. The estimated useable energy from these wastes can be about 40 PJ/y in Hungary (1 PJ = 10¹⁵ J). The possible products are bioethanol, biodiesel and numerous chemicals produced from lignocellulosic biomass and other intermediates (e.g. from lignin components) by application of green technologies. The conversion technologies from biomass to biofuels can be broadly classified in three major categories: biochemical, thermochemical, and hybrid conversions. This poster discusses the alternative possibilities of lignocellulosic biomass utilization as bioenergy and building block chemicals, focusing on Central Europe.

The National Development Agency grant TÁMOP-4.1.1.C-12/1/KONV-2012-0017 greatly acknowledged for the financial support.