Introduction to Lignocellulose-based Products

Abstract

Lignocellulosic materials are naturally designed composites that play crucial roles in the survival of plants. Considering their broad availability, there is a general agreement on the replacement of a major part of fossil-derived fuels and chemicals with lignocellulosic products. Additionally, some products are solely prepared from lignocelluloses and have no fossil-based equivalent. Several chemical, enzymatic, and thermal treatments are available to fractionate the lignocelluloses to their constituents, i.e., cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. Once separated, they are employed for the production of a wide variety of products. Pulp and paper, textiles, and nanocellulose are produced directly from cellulose. Cellulose may undergo chemical modifications to prepare cellulose derivatives. Hemicelluloses are used as a source of films, coatings, and hydrogels. Cellulose and hemicelluloses are hydrolyzed to sugars. Biofuel production from lignocellulosic sugars is among the most attractive routes. The consumption of ethanol, biobutanol, biohydrogen, biomethane, and biodiesel not only reduces the need to fossil fuels but also controls the environmental pollutions resulted by fossil fuels. Organic acids, polysaccharides, microbial biomass, and single cell proteins are other valuable products of fermentation of lignocellulosic sugars. Moreover, these sugars can be chemically converted to some other important chemicals, i.e., furfural, hydroxymethyl furfural, and levulinic acid. Xylitol is produced from hemicellulosic xylose by both chemical and biological methods. Lignin has a high potential for the production of several products including fuels, aromatics, carbon fiber, activated carbon, fillers, adhesives, resins, and dispersants. This chapter presents a brief overview of importance, applications, and production processes of different lignocellulosic products.