In June 2008, crude oil prices had rapidly increased to
a high of over $130 per barrel from ∼ $20 per barrel in
2002. Since then we have seen a resurgent interest in
biofuels and rapid development of the biorefi nery
industry worldwide. While the oil prices have fl uctuated
wildly between $80 and $100 in the last 2 years, public
interest in biofuels and bio-based chemicals remains
high because of their green nature and sustainability.
Biomass represents an abundant carbon-neutral renewable
feedstock for production of fuels and chemicals,
replacing fossil fuels and petrochemicals. Current biorefi
neries use corn, soybeans, and sugarcane for bioethanol
and biodiesel production, which can benefi t from
integrated biorefi ning that extracts high-value nutritional
products while using the main feedstock component
for biofuels and chemicals production and further
converting low-value by-products to additional marketable
products such as energy (heat and electricity) and
animal feed. Lignocellulosic biomass, including forestry
and agricultural residues, is the second-generation feedstock
in biorefi neries and offers the opportunity to meet
30% of U.S. fuel and chemical needs by 2030. In addition,
aquacultures of micro- and macro-algae, which use
CO 2 and sunlight for their growth, could provide all of
the future fuel needs without affecting the current agriculture
land use. With continuing developments and
advances in new energy crops, aquaculture, synthetic
biology for cell engineering, and conversion technologies,
biorefi ning will play an increasingly important role
in the supply of energy, fuels, and chemicals for sustainable
economic growth with minimal or no negative
impact on the environment.