CHAPTER 1:Integrated Forest Biorefineries: Current State and Development Potential

Due to the strong and increasing off-shore competition and global movement and incentives for green fuels and chemicals, the pulp and paper industry needs to create additional revenues and diversify their products and markets to remain competitive. The transformation of pulp and paper mills into integrated forest biorefineries (IFBR) would require the development of advanced bio-based processes to bring about economic, environmental and social benefits. The major research needs, technological challenges, potential products derived from the IFBR platforms and models for the complex utilization of forest biomass for biofuels, biochemicals, market pulp and paper products will be presented and discussed.