Biorefineries for co-production of high value materials and bio-energy, as mitigation of climate change

The primary objective of this project is to establish a joint transnational research collaboration between South Africa (SA) and Norway in the biorefinery area.

BioCoPro is a bilatheral collaboration project between research institutions in Norway (PFI) and South Africa (Stellenbosch University). The primary objective of this project is to establish a joint transnational research collaboration between South Africa (SA) and Norway in the biorefinery area, aiming to demonstrate the viability of an integrated biorefinery as a major step towards creating a sustainable, low-carbon bio-based economy to mitigate GHG emissions and climate change.

The project will:

• produce concrete examples of the potential of biorefineries for implementation in SA and in Norway, which will serve as direct inputs to the policy-making process around climate change, and
• provide case studies that will demonstrate the policy requirements to create an enabling environment for these biorefineries.

Dissemination:

Single-step microwave-assisted hot water extraction of hemicelluloses from selected lignocellulosic materials – A biorefinery approach.
Gezahegn T. Mihiretu, Malin Brodin, Annie F. Chimphango, Karin Øyaas, Bård H. Hoff, Johann F. Görgens.
Bioresource Technology 241 (2017) 669–680

Microwave-assisted hot water extraction of hemicelluloses from selected lignocellulosic materials – a biorefinery approach.
T. M. Gezahegn, M. Brodin, A.F. Chimphango, K. Øyaas, B.H. Hoff, J.F. Görgens.
Conference poster at ECOBIO 2016: Challenges in Building a Sustainable Biobased Economy.