Techno-economic assessment of rice straw biorefineries to produce ethanol with co-production of xylitol and phenolic acids

Rice straw is one of the most abundant agricultural residues globally. Its large availability makes it a promising feedstock for biorefineries, offering a renewable and sustainable resource for producing bio-based products. In this study, different strategies for converting rice straw into ethanol and co-products were assessed to provide recommendations for industrial implementation of a rice straw biorefinery. Three scenarios (Sc) were evaluated, all considering glucose conversion to ethanol through simultaneous saccharification and fermentation, and lignin as a source of phenolic acids. To achieve a process with a positive economic margin, a low price of natural gas is essential. Producing valuable chemicals from sugar fractions, instead of just ethanol, supports the process’s economy. Exploring the potential of lignin streams is also crucial to have a positive revenue. These results highlight critical aspects to be addressed to enhance the economic viability and potential implementation of rice straw biorefineries.

Rafael C. de Assis Castro, Camilo E. Cabrera Camacho, Ines C. Roberto, Solange I. Mussatto, Techno-economic assessment of rice straw biorefineries to produce ethanol with co-production of xylitol and phenolic acids
Biomass and Bioenergy 197 (2025) 107804
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2025.107804