Integrated enzymatic catalysis for biomass deconstruction: a partnership for a sustainable future

Abstract

Deconstruction of lignocellulosic biomass using enzymatic catalysis can offer several advantages as compared to chemical catalysis in terms of product selectivity, production cost and sustainability issues. This contribution aims to provide an account of current developments in the understanding of plant biomass microstructures and the impact of various enzymatic processes on cellulose decrystallization. Critical problems, including biomass recalcitrance, and operational factors, including potential solutions to improve their effectiveness as alternatives in future biorefineries, will be also discussed.

Xylanases from marine microorganisms: A brief overview on scope, sources, features and potential applications

“…Within this scope, hemicellulases are clearly appealing, as they are able to hydrolyze hemicellulose [13,[19][20][21]. Among hemicellulases, xylanases, which hydrolyze the xylan backbone, are especially relevant, as xylan is a key component of lignocellulose [22].…”

Construction of consolidated bio-saccharification biocatalyst and process optimization for highly efficient lignocellulose solubilization

“…Through extensive intramolecular and intermolecular hydrogen bonding networks, the glucose units are tightly bound together to form crystalline structures. Hemicellulose and lignin interact with cellulose fibers and each other to form complex linking networks and recalcitrant structures [4, 5]. Thus, the main obstacle of lignocellulose bioconversion is the deconstruction of the natural defense mechanism of plants and the cost-efficient solubilization.…”

Alternative Non-Food-Based Diesel Fuels and Base Oils

“…However, only high isoalkanes and n -alkanes containing diesel blending components produced from waste or non-food based biomass meet the above requirements. The most promising and feasible methods to produce non petroleum based diesel-range and/or base-oil-range alkanes are (i) the synthesis of bio-alkane from lignocellulose/starch/sugar feedstocks through sugar molecules with their multistep conversion; − (ii) liquefaction of lignocellulose, and then further hydrogenation; − (iii) the oxygen-free fast pyrolysis of lignocellulose feedstocks, and then further deoxygenation; − (iv) the production of n -alkane and isoalkane mixture from biomass through synthesis gas and Fischer–Tropsch (FT) synthesis, e.g., with the hydrocracking and isomerization of heavy FT waxes; − (v) the hydrogenation and a possible further isomerization of natural and/or waste triglycerides/fatty acids from non-food or waste based feedstocks resulting bio-alkane products. − These important routes of bio-alkane production are summarized in Figure .…”