Lactic acid (LA) is a platform chemical for a future bio-based economy. Aminium lactates act as intermediates for the production of lactic acid sequence products like lactide. It could be demonstrated that, after separation of proteins from alfalfa press juice, the supernatant can be used as fermentation media for the production of the aminium lactate, L-lysine-L-lactate.

Wheat straw was pretreated and afterwards enzymatically hydrolyzed using a modified ammonia fiber expansion (AFEX) process under different reaction conditions to produce fermentable sugars. Instead of liquid ammonia, aqueous ammonia (25 % w/v) was used to test its influence on the sugar concentration and yield of the sugars. It is shown that a protein extraction after the pretreatment can distinctly improve the result obtained for the enzymatic hydrolysis. This modified AFEX process using aqueous ammonia represents a simpler and less expensive variant of the AFEX process usually described in literature. Thus, the described process can be used for the primary refining of lignocellulosic feedstocks in the sense of a roadmap for biorefinery.

Plant biomass always consists of the basic precursor: carbohydrates, lignin, proteins and fats, beside various substances such as vitamins, dyes, flavours, and aromatic essences. Biorefineries combine the essential technologies between biological raw materials and the industrial intermediates and final products. In this chapter, the lignocellulosic feedstock system, technologies and products are considered. In particular, focus is directed on the platform chemicals (building blocks) furfural, levulinic acid, hydroxymethylfurfural, sugar alcohols, and lactic acid obtained by thermochemical conversion methods, as well as synthesis gas. The article gives an overview over different production methods and several applications of these building blocks.

No abstract