HiGee process intensification in biorefineries: innovations, challenges, and outlook

Abstract

Biorefineries will play a crucial role in the circular and net-zero economies of the future. To enable these sustainable factories to thrive, it is essential to overcome processing challenges associated with streams complexity, variability, degree of dilution and stability of products, amongst others. Process intensification strategies based on centrifugal force fields or high gravity (HiGee) fields provide promising solutions for rapid heat and mass transfer in fast reactions and/or systems where mixing of fluids is challenging. The applications of HiGee intensification techniques to biorefining processes for oil and sugar solutions, multiphase systems using liquid–liquid or solid suspension streams and thermochemical processes amongst others are highlighted in this short review. The state of the art and the current technology successes and limitations are discussed, identifying key areas for future development and providing an outlook for industrial uptake.