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Unconventional Pretreatment of Lignocellulose with Low‐Temperature Plasma
Author(s) -
Vanneste Jens,
Ennaert Thijs,
Vanhulsel Annick,
Sels Bert
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
chemsuschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.412
H-Index - 157
eISSN - 1864-564X
pISSN - 1864-5631
DOI - 10.1002/cssc.201601381
Subject(s) - levulinic acid , lignocellulosic biomass , biomass (ecology) , biofuel , cellulose , raw material , pulp and paper industry , chemistry , renewable energy , furfural , hydroxymethylfurfural , biochemical engineering , lignin , petrochemical , ethylene glycol , environmental science , waste management , organic chemistry , catalysis , oceanography , electrical engineering , engineering , geology
Lignocellulose represents a potential supply of sustainable feedstock for the production of biofuels and chemicals. There is, however, an important cost and efficiency challenge associated with the conversion of such lignocellulosics. Because its structure is complex and not prone to undergo chemical reactions very easily, chemical and mechanical pretreatments are usually necessary to be able to refine them into the compositional building blocks (carbohydrates and lignin) from which value‐added platform molecules, such as glucose, ethylene glycol, 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural, and levulinic acid, and biofuels, such as bioderived naphtha, kerosene, and diesel fractions, will be produced. Conventional (wet) methods are usually polluting, aggressive, and highly energy consuming, so any alternative activation procedure of the lignocellulose is highly recommended and anticipated in recent and future biomass research. Lignocellulosic plasma activation has emerged as an interesting (dry) treatment technique. In the long run, in particular, in times of fairly accessible renewable electricity, plasma may be considered as an alternative to conventional pretreatment methods, but current knowledge is too little and examples too few to guarantee that statement. This review therefore highlights recent knowledge, advancements, and shortcomings in the field of plasma treatment of cellulose and lignocellulose with regard to the (structural and chemical) effects and impact on the future of pretreatment methods.