First-generation grain ethanol biofuel has affected the historical excess capacity problem in U.S. agriculture. Second-generation cellulosic ethanol biofuel has had difficulty achieving cost-competitiveness. Third-generation drop-in biofuels are under development. If lignocellulosic biomass from perennial grasses becomes the feedstock of choice for second- and third-generation biorefineries, an integrated system could evolve in which a biorefinery directly manages feedstock production, harvest, storage, and delivery. Modeling was conducted to determine the potential economic benefits from an integrated system. Relatively low-cost public policies that could be implemented to facilitate economic efficiency are proposed.

A Ni/MgO-La2O3-Al2O3 catalyst with Ni as active component, Al2O3 as support, MgO and La2O3 as additives was prepared and its catalytic activity was evaluated in the process of hydrogen production from catalytic steam reforming of bio-oil. In the catalytic evaluation, some typical components present in bio-oil such as acetic acid, butanol, furfural, cyclopentanone and m-cresol were mixed following a certain proportion as model compounds. Reaction parameters like temperature, steam to carbon molar ratio and liquid hourly space velocity were studied with hydrogen yield as index. The optimal reaction conditions were obtained as follows: temperature 750-850 °C, steam to carbon molar ratio 5-9, liquid hourly space velocity 1.5-2.5 h-1. The maximum hydrogen yield was 88.14%. The carbon deposits were formed on the catalyst surface but its content decreased as reaction temperature increased in the bio-oil steam reforming process.