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Design, Implementation and Simulation of a Small-Scale Biorefinery Model

Second-generation biomass is an underexploited resource, which can lead to valuable products in a circular economy. Available locally as food waste, gardening and pruning waste or agricultural waste, second-generation biomass can be processed into high-valued products through a flexi-feed small-scale biorefinery. The flexi-feed and the use of local biomass ensure the continuous availability of feedstock at low logistic costs. However, the viability and sustainability of the biorefinery must be ensured by the design and optimal operation. While the design depends on the available feedstock and the desired products, the optimisation requires the availability of a mathematical model of the biorefinery. This paper details the design and modelling of a small-scale biorefinery in view of its optimisation at a later stage. The proposed biorefinery comprises the following processes: steam refining, anaerobic digestion, ammonia stripping and composting. The models’ integration and the overall biorefinery operation are emphasised. The simulation results assess the potential of the real biowaste collected in a commune in Flanders (Belgium) to produce oligosaccharides, lignin, fibres, biogas, fertiliser and compost. This represents a baseline scenario, which can be subsequently employed in the evaluation of optimised solutions. The outlined approach leads to better feedstocks utilisation and product diversification, raising awareness on the impact and importance of small-scale biorefineries at a commune level.