Biorefineries Based on Rice Residues as Sustainable Productive Models

Due to the low cost, accessibility, and low greenhouse gas emissions associated with the use of biomass to produce energy and bioproducts, it has become a promising alternative to the industry. The bioprocesses in the biorefinery concept framework as a route the biomass valorization, present a main advantage of reducing fossil fuel dependency. In this context, this chapter presents a review of the current situation of biomass. Also, the public policies that are being implemented in Latin American countries around the use of biomass and the implementation of bioprocesses and biorefineries are described and analyzed. Biorefineries schemes based on rice straw and rice husk are proposed and analyzed (Scenario 1: rice straw fermentation – rice husk pyrolysis and Scenario 2: rice husk fermentation and rice straw pyrolysis). Both assessed scenarios were feasible. The economic margins were 9.22%, and 24.62% for scenarios 1 and 2, respectively. The pyrolysis process subsidizes the fermentation process and improves the biorefineries’ economic performance. Biorefineries as sustainable productive models contribute to meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG's) 7, 8, 9, and 13. The biorefineries as sustainable productive models contribute to meeting the SDG and the materialization of addressing the current economic system to a bioeconomy.