Fossil resources-free sustainable development can be achieved through a transition to bioeconomy, an economy based on sustainable biomass-derived food, feed, chemicals, materials, and fuels. However, the transition to bioeconomy requires development of new energy-efficient technologies and processes to manipulate biomass feed stocks and their conversion into useful products, a collective term for which is biorefinery. One of the technological platforms that will enable various pathways of biomass conversion is based on pulsed electric fields applications (PEF). Energy efficiency of PEF treatment is achieved by specific increase of cell membrane permeability, a phenomenon known as membrane electroporation. Here, we review the opportunities that PEF and electroporation provide for the development of sustainable biorefineries. We describe the use of PEF treatment in biomass engineering, drying, deconstruction, extraction of phytochemicals, improvement of fermentations, and biogas production. These applications show the potential of PEF and consequent membrane electroporation to enable the bioeconomy and sustainable development.

The effect of the pulsed electric field (PEF) pretreatment on convective drying of red beetroot tissue was investigated at the drying temperatures T_d in the interval 30–100°C. The degree of material damage Z under the PEF and thermal treatment was studied. Dependence of the electrical characteristic damage time τ_E on the electric field strength E and the thermal characteristic damage time τ_T on temperature T_d is discussed. The drying rate is shown to be maximal for highly disintegrated tissues; PEF pretreatment allowed reduction of the drying temperature by 20–25°C. PEF pretreatment results in greater degree of tissue shrinkage and hence increase in rehydration time; however, the textural properties of rehydrated samples with and without PEF treatment are seen to be similar. The benefit of PEF pretreatment for drying at moderate temperatures with preservation of colorants is also demonstrated.