Date of Award

May 2026

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Environmental Engineering

First Advisor

Yeo H. Lim

Second Advisor

Olusegun S. Tomomewo

Abstract

This research investigates the integration of advanced biomanufacturing technologies and Bioenergy with Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (BECCUS) systems to decarbonize fuel and chemical production in Texas and the Gulf Coast. The region, which leads the United States in petroleum refining, petrochemical manufacturing, and CO₂ transportation infrastructure, represents both a major source of greenhouse gas emissions and a strategic opportunity for large scale carbon mitigation. While bio-based chemicals such as bioisoprene are technically feasible and demonstrate significantly lower life cycle greenhouse gas intensities compared to fossil based counterparts, their commercial deployment remains constrained by economic and systemic barriers. The central hypothesis of this research is that integrating advanced bioconversion technologies and BECCUS into conventional petrochemical systems can substantially reduce emissions while improving long-term economic feasibility in the Gulf Coast industrial ecosystem. To evaluate this hypothesis, the study employs a scoping literature review, biomass flow analysis, systems dynamics modeling of circular bioeconomy scenarios, and semi-structured interviews with subject matter experts. The research addresses three primary questions: (1) What barriers and accelerators influence the adoption of decarbonizing technologies in existing refineries and petrochemical facilities? (2) Which circular bioeconomy system dynamics scenarios enable scalable blending of bio-derived isoprene and fuels? and (3) How can business models and public/private collaboration enhance the viability of BECCUS enabled industrial transformation? By synthesizing technical, economic, and policy perspectives, this dissertation advances a systems-level framework for implementing circular, low-carbon industrial pathways in one of the world’s most concentrated petrochemical region.

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