###### Abstract  
Since the last century, the idea of replacing traditional fossil sources with renewable alternatives has attracted much attention. As a result, auspicious renewable biofuels, such as biohydrogen or bio-oil, have emerged as suitable options. This study provides some knowledge on combining process design, modeling, and exergy analysis as a united framework to support decision making in energy-based projects. The assessment also included a final evaluation, considering sustainability indicators to evaluate process performance. Feedstock selection is crucial for producing bio-oil and hydrogen for process sustainability; this aspect is discussed, considering second-generation sources. Second-generation bio-oil and biohydrogen production are assessed and compared under the proposed framework. Process simulation was performed using ASPEN PLUS. Exergy analysis was developed using data generated in the process simulation stage, containing material and energy balances, thermodynamic properties, chemical reactions, etc. A mathematical formulation for the exergy analysis shows the exergy of utilities, waste, exergy efficiency, and exergy intensity of both processes, based on the same functional unit (1 kg of product). The sustainability evaluation included quantifying side parameters, such as the renewability index, energy efficiency, or global warming potential. The results indicate that pyrolysis obtained the highest resource exergy efficiency (11%), compared to gasification (3%). The exergy intensity shows that more exergy is consumed in the gasification process (4080.21 MJ/kg) than pyrolysis (18.64 MJ/kg). Similar results are obtained for total irreversibility (327.41 vs. 48.75 MJ/kg) and exergy of wastes (51.34 vs. 18.14 MJ/kg). XXXX2021 21 September 2021 XXXXXX2021 21 September 2021  
sustainability aspects, such as efficiency, environmental profile, and financials, must be considered [8]. Henceforward, using process analysis tools to compare the performance of second-generation technologies from different feedstocks become strategic. Biomass such as wood bagasse, leftovers, and others are sources of second-generation bio-oil [9]. These materials are abundant at a meager cost, due to their high availability. Direct combustion is traditionally used to generate energy from biomass conversion. Thermochemical and biochemical pathways produce biofuels and biochemicals [10]. Second-generation biomass composition varies in different ranges. Its typical composition shows glucan within 40-50 wt.%, xylan 20-40 wt.%, and lignin 10-40 wt.% [11]. Pyrolysis is a suitable way of producing second-generation bio-oil and is a promising alternative to replace fossil fuels [12]. This process consists of a furnace or reactor to convert biomass into products, and condensing gases into liquid products [13]. Biohydrogen is a promising biofuel, and it is expected to play a role as a fuel that is clean, friendly with the environment, and energy-intensive. This component is also functional in fuel cells for electricity generation. A significant weakness in its commercial distribution involves its inflated cost [14]. Consequently, research and development activities are needed to increase TRLs for this kind of technology. This can lead to reaching more sustainable biofuel production [15]. Using lignocellulosic materials in hydrogen production can reduce expenditures, while improving the process's environmental profile. Gasification is an appropriate technology for thermochemically transforming biomass into syngas and biohydrogen. The process adds a water gas shift (WGS) unit to enhance biohydrogen production [16]. Biomass gasification has also been used as an internal unit in a complete methanol production process in a combined scheme [17]. A significant issue in the thermochemical transformation processes (even more for second-generation sources) is their energy-intensity operations [18], making these technologies challenging to scale up and develop for commercial applications.