Products from Lignocellulosic Materials via Degradation Processes

Abstract

Products from lignicellulosic materials by degradation processes are reviewed based on the results of some investigations. Biomass provides a potential source of added value chemicals, such as reducing sugars, furfural, ethanol and other products by using biochemical or chemical and thermochemical. The initial degradation reactions include depolymerization, hydrolysis, oxidation, dehydration, and decarboxylation. The gas phase of pyrolitic degradation products contain mostly carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, and minor proportions of hydrogen, methane, ethane, and propane. The liquid fraction consists mainly of water, with small proportions of acetaldehyde, propion aldehyde, butiraldehyde, acrolein, croton-aldehyde, furan, acetone, butanedione, and methanol. There are many studies on biomass conversion methods because of energy problems and environmental pollution. Ethanol is an alcohol and is fermented from sugars, starches or from lignocellulosic biomass. In order to produce bioethanol from lignocellulosic biomass, a pretreatment process is used to reduce the sample size, degrade the hemicelluloses to sugars, and open up the structure of the cellulose component. The cellulose portion is hydrolyzed by acids or enzymes into glucose sugar that is fermented to bioethanol. The sugars from the hemicelluloses are also fermented to bioethanol.