Novel trends in application and pretreatment of lignocellulosic agricultural waste

Abstract

Lignocellulosic biomass represents the most abundant renewable material in the world, whereas agricultural residues, including those from maize cultivation, comprise a significant fraction of the total plant waste that can be repurposed for various applications. Lignocellulosic feedstocks are non-edible and consist mainly of: cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, along with extractive compounds. Pretreatment is required to separate the lignocellulosic biomass into its constituents for efficient utilization. Even after extensive research and development of numerous techniques, pretreatment remains one of the most expensive phases in converting lignocellulosic biomass into biobased products.