Producing fuels and chemicals from lignocellulosic biomass
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Lignicellulosic biomass has become a likely feedstock for the fuel and chemical industries in the event of an increase in oil and gas prices. The features of lignocellulose that hinder enzyme access to the cellulose and hemicellulose include lignin content, hemicellulose content, acetyl content, cellulose crystallinity, degree of polymerization, and surface area and pore volume. Pretreatment of lignocellulose recalcitrance improves enzyme access by removing or altering lignin, removing hemicellulose, decrystallizing cellulose, and reducing the degree of polymerization in cellulose. The desirable characteristics of lignicellulose pretreatment process include preserving the cellulose and hemicellulose fractions, requiring minimal energy, be effective on multiple lignocellulose feedstocks, and minimizing capital and operating costs.