Lignocellulosic Biomass Transformation Processes into Building Blocks: Focus on Simulation, Optimization, and the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Techniques

Implementing lignocellulosic biorefineries to obtain energy and chemical products is a great challenge given the complexity of the raw material and the immaturity of the technology, compared to oil refineries. On the other hand, the development of computer tools has allowed the improvement of industrial processes through automation and optimization of different procedures. This chapter addresses how technological advances, and the implementation and use of computational resources will drive biorefineries in the so-called new industrial revolution or Industry 4.0. Specifically, the optimization of processes using the design of experiments allows for reducing the number of experiments in the search for the best operating conditions in each of the production stages. Thus, time and resources are saved, which is economically favorable. In addition, modeling, and simulation lead to the understanding of complex processes and predict kinetic and thermodynamic models. In the same way, the life cycle analysis allows decisions to be made after evaluating the different criteria, according to the fundamental pillars: environmental, social, and economic. Through simulation, theoretical concepts can be linked to real situations, saving resources and time, and the footprint of the product can be established from the beginning to the end of its life cycle. However, all these tools have been used primarily on a laboratory scale. Conducting these studies on a larger scale is crucial to guarantee the competitiveness of biorefineries from technological, economic, and social points of view. In addition, logistics must be perfected throughout the supply and production chain, which can be favored with the digitization and automation of processes. At the same time, these tools can contribute to implementing the circular economy, and the development of sustainable processes. Besides, the integration of processes is presented as an interesting option that can even reduce the dependence on resources of fossil origin. Finally, academia and industry must be strongly united in the search for viable solutions that can be applied to improve processes and not remain only in publications.