A Framework to Examine and Validate Sustainability of Biorefining Processes

As research is exploring possibilities for developing renewable bio-based fuel, there arises a need for decision support tools that can simultaneously analyze impacts of various processes involved and justify the future investment towards any particular process. Considering the challenges inherited due to the inclusion of biomass as feedstock, a model is developed, demonstrating a novel multidisciplinary approach to create a framework for comparing various processes and analyzing their upstream and downstream supply chain effects. This contribution shows developing, interfacing and linking of various optimization models utilizing supply chain modeling and process systems engineering skills. The developed model takes into account all variable costs and capital investments involved in viable thermochemical and biochemical processes in any given region of interest. This analysis will be subsequently appraised for its environmental and societal impact, capturing all possible aspects of sustainability. The resulting model is unique and informative in assisting policy makers and various stakeholders for evaluating sustainability of biofuels in any given region. To illustrate its applicability, generalizability and to examine economic, environmental and societal impact, a case study is performed in the Jackson Purchase Region in Western Kentucky.