Biofuel Production from Lignocellulose
Many scientists around the world are investigating methods of liberating the energy held within lignocellulose.
Lignocellulose comes from woody plant biomass; it is the most widespread source of carbon in nature. However, current lignocellulose-to-bio-ethanol processes are not deemed economical.
Lignocellulosic material comprises cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. Cellulose and hemicellulose are polymers of fermentable sugars. They are put through a process of hydrolysis to convert them into sugars, which can ultimately be refined into bioethanol. They can also be treated thermochemically through gasification, combustion or pyrolysis to create high-value energy or chemical products.
Some research teams are developing yeast strains that can produce a combination of cellulase and hemicellulase enzymes (enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of cellulose and hemicellulose), required for lignocellulosic hydrolysis. Its aim is to develop the yeast strains to be able to directly convert pretreated lignocellulose into ethanol and other fermentation products in a single-step process called consolidated bioprocessing.
Lignocellulose comes from woody plant biomass; it is the most widespread source of carbon in nature. However, current lignocellulose-to-bio-ethanol processes are not deemed economical.
Lignocellulosic material comprises cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. Cellulose and hemicellulose are polymers of fermentable sugars. They are put through a process of hydrolysis to convert them into sugars, which can ultimately be refined into bioethanol. They can also be treated thermochemically through gasification, combustion or pyrolysis to create high-value energy or chemical products.
Some research teams are developing yeast strains that can produce a combination of cellulase and hemicellulase enzymes (enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of cellulose and hemicellulose), required for lignocellulosic hydrolysis. Its aim is to develop the yeast strains to be able to directly convert pretreated lignocellulose into ethanol and other fermentation products in a single-step process called consolidated bioprocessing.
PermaLink - Biofuel Production from Lignocellulose
