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The Biorefinery—Challenges, Opportunities, and an Australian Perspective

University of Sydney

Anthony Masters

University of Sydney

Thomas Maschmeyer

University of Sydney

Biomass provides the only sustainable source of organic carbon for the production of chemicals used in manufacturing and as liquid transportation fuels. In this article, the authors examine some of the challenges that society faces in the transition from a global economy in which transportation fuels are derived from fossil fuels to one in which they are derived from renewable biomass via a "biorefinery." In so doing, the authors present an overview of the technology currently available to society and highlight some of the key issues that must be resolved in order to grasp the opportunities that stem from the transition. They conclude by considering the situation of their own country, Australia, to illustrate that the solutions to the challenges will likely depend not only on technology development but also on social, political, and geographical factors.

Key Words: biorefinery • biomass • lignocellulose • biofuel • transportation • bioethanol • biodiesel

Bulletin of Science, Technology & Society, Vol. 28, No. 2, 149-158 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/0270467607313960


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