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BIOBASED FEEDSTOCKS

Background

The biorefinery is similar in concept to the petroleum refinery, except that local, renewable biomass materials are the feedstocks rather than crude oil. Although crude oil is biobased, it is a fossil resource of limited quantity and availability.

Living plants and animals harness energy from the sun to continually produce chemicals such as sugars, starch, and oils. The biorefinery transforms renewable, biobased plant and animal chemicals into multiple, higher-value biobased products.

Feedstock profiles

Below is a list of the prominent biobased feedstocks available in Wisconsin to supply biorefineries. Each feedstock profile may be printed, downloaded, or viewed on-line. The information is introductory, with links and references to individuals and organizations that can provide more detailed information.

Feedstock profiles contain a category called "Applicable Biorefining Processes" that lists the technologies that may be used to transform the feedstock to a valuable biobased product. The list of biorefining processes contains links to profiles describing biorefining process technologies. The biorefining technology profiles link to potential biobased products from the process. Through this structure, one can follow the biorefinery concept from feedstock to conversion process technology to final product.