High Value Chemicals and Materials Production Based on Biomass Components Separation

Abstract

Biomass is an important renewable energy source and can be used as a feedstock for the sustainable production of clean fuels and chemicals. The benefits of using biomass for the production of biofuels, chemicals and biomass-derived materials include reduction of the use of fossil fuels, less dependence on imported fuels, increase of income in rural areas, and reduction in carbon emissions. The direct conversion of biomass, such as gasification or pyrolysis, is difficult to get high value products and has lower conversion efficiency. Biomass is mainly composed of lignin, cellulose, and semicellulose. Recently, an innovative biorefinery process based on biomass components separation has been paid more attention. High-value chemicals production processes based on biomass components separation showed more technical and economic feasibility in renewable chemicals and materials production. In this chapter, the recent methods for selective separation of biomass components, as well as the separation conditions, have been critically reviewed.