Pretreatment of Biomass provides general information, basic data, and knowledge on one of the most promising renewable energy sources—biomass for their pretreatment—which is one of the most essential and critical aspects of biomass-based processes development. The quest to make the environment greener, less polluted, and less hazardous has led to the concept of biorefineries for developing bio-based processes and products using biomass as a feedstock. Each kind of biomass requires some kind of pretreatment to make it suitable for bioprocess. This book provides state-of-art information on the methods currently available for this. This book provides data-based scientific information on the most advanced and innovative pretreatment of lignocellulosic and algal biomass for further processing. Pretreatment of biomass is considered one of the most expensive steps in the overall processing in a biomass-to-biofuel program. With the strong advancement in developing lignocellulose biomass- and algal biomass-based biorefineries, global focus has been on developing pretreatment methods and technologies that are technically and economically feasible. This book provides a comprehensive overview of the latest developments in methods used for the pretreatment of biomass. An entire section is devoted to the methods and technologies of algal biomass due to the increasing global attention of its use. - Provides information on the most advanced and innovative pretreatament processes and technologies for biomass - Covers information on lignocellulosic and algal biomass to work on the principles of biorefinery - Useful for researchers intending to study scale-up - Provides information on integration of processes and technologies for the pretreatment of biomass

The book describes the pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass for biomass-to-biofuel conversion processes, which is an important step in increasing ethanol production for biofuels. It also highlights the main challenges and suggests possible ways to make these technologies feasible for the biofuel industry. The biological conversion of cellulosic biomass into bioethanol is based on the chemical and biological breakdown of biomass into aqueous sugars, for example using hydrolytic enzymes. The fermentable sugars can then be further processed into ethanol or other advanced biofuels. Pretreatment is required to break down the lignin structure and disrupt the crystalline structure of cellulose so that the acids or enzymes can easily access and hydrolyze the cellulose. Pre-treatment can be the most expensive process in converting biomass to fuel, but there is great potential for improving the efficiency and lowering costs through further research and development. This book is aimed at academics and industrial practitioners who are interested in the higher production of ethanol for biofuels.

Biomass Fractionation Technologies for a Lignocellulosic Feedstock-based Biorefinery reviews the extensive research and tremendous scientific and technological developments that have occurred in the area of biorefinering, including industrial processes and product development using ‘green technologies’, often referred as white biotechnology. As there is a huge need for new design concepts for modern biorefineries as an alternative and amendment to industrial crude oil and gas refineries, this book presents the most important topics related to biomass fractionation, including advances, challenges, and perspectives, all with references to current literature for further study. Presented in 26 chapters by international field specialists, each chapter consists of review text that comprises the most recent advances, challenges, and perspectives for each fractionation technique. The book is an indispensable reference for all professionals, students, and workers involved in biomass biorefinery, assisting them in establishing efficient and economically viable process technologies for biomass fractionation. Provides information on the most advanced and innovative pretreatment processes and technologies for biomass Reviews numerous valuable products from lignocellulose Discusses integration of processes for complete biomass conversion with minimum waste generation Identifies the research gaps in scale-up Presents an indispensable reference for all professionals, students, and workers involved in biomass biorefinery, assisting them in establishing efficient and economically viable process technologies for biomass fractionation

Plant biomass is attracting increasing attention as a sustainable resource for large-scale production of renewable fuels and chemicals. However, in order to successfully compete with petroleum, it is vital that biomass conversion processes are designed to minimize costs and maximize yields. Advances in pretreatment technology are critical in order to develop high-yielding, cost-competitive routes to renewable fuels and chemicals. Aqueous Pretreatment of Plant Biomass for Biological and Chemical Conversion to Fuels and Chemicals presents a comprehensive overview of the currently available aqueous pretreatment technologies for cellulosic biomass, highlighting the fundamental chemistry and biology of each method, key attributes and limitations, and opportunities for future advances. Topics covered include: • The importance of biomass conversion to fuels • The role of pretreatment in biological and chemical conversion of biomass • Composition and structure of biomass, and recalcitrance to conversion • Fundamentals of biomass pretreatment at low, neutral and high pH • Ionic liquid and organosolv pretreatments to fractionate biomass • Comparative data for application of leading pretreatments and effect of enzyme formulations • Physical and chemical features of pretreated biomass • Economics of pretreatment for biological processing • Methods of analysis and enzymatic conversion of biomass streams • Experimental pretreatment systems from multiwell plates to pilot plant operations This comprehensive reference book provides an authoritative source of information on the pretreatment of cellulosic biomass to aid those experienced in the field to access the most current information on the topic. It will also be invaluable to those entering the growing field of biomass conversion.

This book provides important aspects of sustainable degradation of lignocellulosic biomass which has a pivotal role for the economic production of several value-added products and biofuels with safe environment. Different pretreatment techniques and enzymatic hydrolysis process along with the characterization of cell wall components have been discussed broadly. The following features of this book attribute its distinctiveness: This book comprehensively covers the improvement in methodologies for the biomass pretreatment, hemicellulose and cellulose breakdown into fermentable sugars, the analytical methods for biomass characterization, and bioconversion of cellulosics into biofuels. In addition, mechanistic analysis of biomass pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis have been discussed in details, highlighting key factors influencing these processes at industrial scale.

Engineering the physical, chemical, and energy properties of lignocellulosic biomass is important to produce high-quality consistent feedstocks with reduced variability for biofuels production. The emphasis of this book will be the beneficial impacts that mechanical, chemical, and thermal preprocessing methods can have on lignocellulosic biomass quality attributes or specifications for solid and liquid biofuels and biopower production technologies. "Preprocessing" refers to treatments that can occur at a distance from conversion and result in an intermediate with added value, with improved conversion performance and efficiency. This book explores the effects of mechanical, chemical, and thermal preprocessing methods on lignocellulosic biomass physical properties and chemical composition and their suitability for biofuels production. For example, biomass mechanical preprocessing methods like size reduction (which impacts the particle size and distribution) and densification (density and size and shape) are important for feedstocks to meet the quality requirements for both biochemical and thermochemical conversion methods like enzymatic conversion, gasification, and pyrolysis process. Thermal preprocessing methods like drying, deep drying, torrefaction, steam explosion, hydrothermal carbonization, and hydrothermal liquefaction effect feedstock's proximate, ultimate and energy property, making biomass suitable for both solid and liquid fuel production. Chemical preprocessing which includes washing, leaching, acid, alkali, and ammonia fiber explosion that can enable biochemical composition, such as modification of lignin and hemicellulose, and impacts the enzymatic conversion application for liquid fuels production. This book also explores the integration of these preprocessing technologies to achieve desired lignocellulosic biomass quality attributes for biofuels production.

This book provides an introduction to the basic science and technologies for the conversion of biomass (terrestrial and aquatic) into chemicals and fuels, as well as an overview of innovations in the field. The entire value chain for converting raw materials into platform molecules and their transformation into final products are presented in detail. Both cellulosic and oleaginous biomass are considered. The book contains contributions by both academic scientists and industrial technologists so that each topic combines state-of-the-art scientific knowledge with innovative technologies relevant to chemical industries. Selected topics include: Refinery of the future: feedstock, processes, products The terrestrial and aquatic biomass production and properties Chemical technologies and biotechnologies for the conversion of cellulose, hemicellulose, lignine, algae, residual biomass Thermal, catalytic and enzymatic conversion of biomass Production of chemicals, polymeric materials, fuels (biogas, biodiesel, bioethanol, biohydrogen) Policy aspects of biomass product chains LCA applied to the energetic, economic and environmental evaluation of the production of fuels from biomass: ethanol, biooil and biodiesel, biogas, biohydrogen

This book focuses on the properties of deep eutectic solvents (DESs) and recent advances in their application in lignocellulosic biomass processing. Lignocellulosic biomass conversion to biofuels, biochemicals and other value-added products has attracted global attention because it is a readily available, inexpensive and renewable resource. However, in order for biomass technologies to be commercially viable, biomass recalcitrance needs to be cost-effectively reduced. Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) are new ‘green' solvents that have the high potential for biomass processing thanks to their low cost, low toxicity, biodegradability, and easy recycling and reuse. After an overview of the current lignocellulosic biomass pretreatment, the book discusses the synthesis and physiochemical properties of DESs, as well as key findings on the effects of DES on cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin solubilization, biomass pretreatment and biomass crystallinity. It then addresses the enzymatic hydrolysis performance of DES-pretreated solids, compatibility of DESs with enzymes and microorganisms, and the recycling potential of DESs. Lastly, it compares DESs with ionic liquids, and examines the challenges and opportunities relating to extending the use of DESs in lignocellulosic processing.

Biofuels are considered to be the main potential replacement for fossil fuels in the near future. In this book international experts present recent advances in biofuel research and related technologies. Topics include biomethane and biobutanol production, microbial fuel cells, feedstock production, biomass pre-treatment, enzyme hydrolysis, genetic manipulation of microbial cells and their application in the biofuels industry, bioreactor systems, and economical processing technologies for biofuel residues. The chapters provide concise information to help understand the technology-related implications of biofuels development. Moreover, recent updates on biofuel feedstocks, biofuel types, associated co- and byproducts and their applications are highlighted. The book addresses the needs of postgraduate researchers and scientists across diverse disciplines and industrial sectors in which biofuel technologies and related research and experimentation are pursued.

This volume focuses on the prospects of the conversion of biomass into biofuels including ethanol, butanol, biogas, biohydrogen, biodiesel, syn-gas and other useful products. Biomass-derived fuels have gained tremendous attention worldwide. However, due to high raw material and processing costs, biofuels produced from lignocelluloses have been found to be more expensive than conventional fuels. Therefore, a concept of biorefining has been introduced, where more than one product or each and every component of biomass may be derived into useful products in a manner of petroleum refinery.