Project Objectives The main purpose of this project is to analyze the impact of intermodal facilities in the design of supply chains for biofuel production facilities. This objective will be attained by pursuing two specific aims: (a) Build mathematical models that will be used to design the in-bound and out-bound supply chain of a biorefinery. This model will take as an input (i) location of e...

A bicriterion, multiperiod, stochastic mixed-integer linear programming model to address the optimal design of hydrocarbon biorefinery supply chains under supply and demand uncertainties is presented. The model accounts for multiple conversion technologies, feedstock seasonality and fluctuation, geographical diversity, biomass degradation, demand variation, government incentives, and risk manag...

Lignocellulosic biomass is a complex biopolymer that is primary composed of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. The presence of cellulose in biomass is able to depolymerise into nanodimension biomaterial, with exceptional mechanical properties for biocomposites, pharmaceutical carriers, and electronic substrate's application. However, the entangled biomass ultrastructure consists of inherent ...

Catalysis is one of the core technologies in modern chemistry, energy industry and recently with promising application in biorefinery for sustainable fuels and energy production. Reducing the cost of catalyst systems is one of the ways in which technology can be brought closer to full commercialisation. The replacement of noble metals by cheaper non-precious alternatives would bring valuable sa...

Production of 1,3-propanediol (1,3-PDO) from glycerol is a promising route toward glycerol biorefinery. However, the yield of 1,3-PDO is limited due to the requirement of NADH regeneration via glycerol oxidation process, which generates large amounts of undesired byproducts. Glutamate fermentation by Corynebacterium glutamicum is an important oxidation process generating excess NADH. In this st...

Biorefinery applications are receiving growing interest due to climatic and waste disposal issues and lack of petroleum resources. Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.) is suitable for biorefinery applications due to high biomass production and limited cultivation requirements. This paper focuses on the potential of Jerusalem artichoke as a biorefinery crop and the most viable products ...