biorefinery
noun
bio·re·fin·ery
ˌbī-ō-ri-ˈfī-nə-rē 
-ˈfīn-rē
plural biorefineries
: a facility that processes biological material (such as crop waste) to produce fuel (such as ethanol and biodiesel), electricity, and commercially useful chemicals (such as succinic acid)
Meanwhile DuPont, the chemical giant, is figuring out how to construct a biorefinery fueled by corn stover—the stalk and leaves that are left in the field after farmers harvest their crop.—
John J. Fialka et al.
John J. Fialka et al.Examples of biorefinery in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The company refers to the operation as a biorefinery, reflecting its beyond-ethanol focus on clean-energy products and other marketable grain biproducts.
—Karl Ebert, Journal Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2024
In addition to a waste digester, the resort plans to install a biorefinery by the end of the year to transform leftover cooking oil into biodiesel.
—Maggie Hiufu Wong, CNN, 30 Oct. 2022
Grind bales at a biorefinery in a 90-minute closed-loop process.
—Dan Edmunds, Car and Driver, 9 Oct. 2022
The feedstock for the biorefinery will be transported in by truck from two off-site locations, one in Indiana and one in Illinois.
—Carrie Napoleon, Chicago Tribune, 24 Sep. 2022
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Karl Ebert, Journal Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2024
In addition to a waste digester, the resort plans to install a biorefinery by the end of the year to transform leftover cooking oil into biodiesel.
—Maggie Hiufu Wong, CNN, 30 Oct. 2022
Grind bales at a biorefinery in a 90-minute closed-loop process.
—Dan Edmunds, Car and Driver, 9 Oct. 2022
The feedstock for the biorefinery will be transported in by truck from two off-site locations, one in Indiana and one in Illinois.
—Carrie Napoleon, Chicago Tribune, 24 Sep. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Biorefinery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/biorefinery. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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