Title
Green Techniques for the Pre-treatment and Characterization of Lignocellulosic Biomass and Products
Authors
Nworu J.S.,*a Amuka J.O.,a Morka W.E.a and Peter C.C.b
aSchool of Basic Science (Chemistry), Nigeria Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Delta State, Nigeria.
bMarine Environment and Pollution Control, Nigeria Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Delta State, Nigeria.
*Corresponding author E-mail address: jerome.nworu@nmu.edu.ng (Nworu J.S.)
Article History
Publication details: Received: 13th July 2021; Revised: 01st August 2021; Accepted: 01st August 2021; Published: 14th August 2021
Cite this article
Nworu J.S.; Amuka J.O.; Morka W.E.; Peter C.C. Green Techniques for the Pre-treatment and Characterization of Lignocellulosic Biomass and Products. Green Rep., 2021, 2(5), 32-41.
Abstract
Lignocellulose is composed of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin along with other small quantity of proteins, salts, minerals and wax. Lignocellulosic biomass is the most abundant, low-cost, bio-renewable resource that holds many benefits as alternative source for production of biofuels and other biochemicals that can be utilized as building blocks for production of new materials. Pre-treatment technologies are aimed to increase enzyme accessibility to biomass and yields of fermentable sugars. In general, pre-treatment methods fall into four different categories including physical, chemical, physico-chemical, and biological. This work is dedicated to reviewing the commonly applied green pre-treatment processes used in bio-conversion of lignocellulosic biomasses. There are several conventional ways to separate the constituents of lignocellulose from each other, but the requirements of high temperature and pressure, use of strong acids and bases, and expensive instrumentation make the pre-treatment methods difficult. Greener solvents, such as supercritical fluid and ionic liquid pre-treatment techniques can overcome these difficulties.
Keywords
Lignocellulose; Biomass; Greener Pre-treatment; Bioconversion
