Potential pre-treatment of lignocellulosic biomass for the enhancement of biomethane production through anaerobic digestion- A review

Abstract

Biomethane is one of the cleaner energy alternatives to replace natural, fossil fuels and has emerged incredibly along the years for its wider implementation in most parts of the globe. This review outlook the works which were made effectively to stabilize the biogas production via anaerobic digestion (AD) for the lignocellulosic biomass with an effective pre-treatment method. This review is eloquent in the wider acceptance of the pre-treatment methods applied on lignocellulosic feed-biomass for the biomethane production with AD process, which relies on the complete structural breakdown of the lignocellulosic biomass. Pre-treatment can be classed as physical, chemical and biological methods. The physical methods such as mechanical and liquid hot water could increase the biomass properties whereas irradiation and steam explosion methods could able to enhances the hydrocarbons in the biomethane during anaerobic digestion process. The chemical pre-treatment methods basically eliminate the toxic metals in the biomass and therefore improve the energy value in the produced biomethane. The biological methods could increase the process stability by completely degraded the biomass to biomethane. The environmental and economic impact over the biomethane production and its pre-treatment methods is briefed to understand the importance and the need for anaerobic biomethane production system in the future. This study would open new insight for various pre-treatment methods employed in the production of sustainable green energy from lignocellulosic biomass through the AD process. Thus, leading to cheaper and eco-friendly production of green energy.