Suppression of Lignin Repolymerisation to Enhance Cellulose Bioconversion and Lignin Valorisation - A Review.

The recent discovery that the prevention of lignin repolymerisation/condensation in lignocellulosic biomass pretreatment can both enhance the bioconversion of cellulose and the quality of the obtained lignin, has brought a lignocellulose biorefinery closer to reality. In this work, the development of this approach and the last advancements are reviewed. The review reveals the successful implementation for a wide range of lignocellulosic substrates including softwood, hardwood, and agricultural residues.

The influence of the explosive decompression in steam-explosion pretreatment on the enzymatic digestibility of different biomasses.

For the production of second generation biofuels from lignocellulosic biomass, pretreatment of the biomass feedstock is necessary to overcome its recalcitrance in order to gain fermentable sugars. Due to many reasons, steam-explosion pretreatment is currently the most commonly used pretreatment method for lignocellulosic biomass on a commercial scale [S. Brethauer and M.

Pilot-scale steam explosion pretreatment with 2-naphthol to overcome high softwood recalcitrance.

Background: Steam explosion pretreatment has been examined in many studies for enhancing the enzymatic digestibility of lignocellulosic biomass and is currently the most common pretreatment method in commercial biorefineries. It is however not effective for overcoming the extremely high recalcitrance of softwood to biochemical conversion. Recent fundamental research in small-scale liquid hot water pretreatment has shown, though, that the addition of a carbocation scavenger like 2-naphthol can prevent lignin repolymerization and thus enhance the enzymatic digestibility of softwood cellulose.

Steam explosion pretreatment of softwood: the effect of the explosive decompression on enzymatic digestibility.

Background: Steam explosion pretreatment has been examined in many studies for enhancing the enzymatic digestibility of lignocellulosic biomass and is currently the most common pretreatment method in commercial biorefineries. The information available about the effect of the explosive decompression on the biochemical conversion is, however, very limited, and no studies prove that the latter is actually enhanced by the explosion. Hence, it is of great value to discern between the effect of the explosion on the one hand and the steaming on the other hand, to identify their particular influences on enzymatic digestibility.