Lignocellulosic Biomass

This lesson introduces plants characterized by their woody structure composed of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin.

Introduction

Higher plants, mostly with perennial growth patterns, deposit stabilizing substances like lignin in their cell walls. Because of this lignified (woody) structural tissue, they are referred to as lignocellulosic plants. Lignocellulosic plants are composed of celluloses, hemicelluloses, and lignin in varying proportions, depending on the species and, to some extent, on the site conditions. hese macromolecules can be broken down in an oxygen-free atmosphere through pyrolysis, they can be gasified and then liquefied via a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FT synthesis), or they can be converted into sugars and then fermented into alcohol. Lignocellulosic biomass is considered a promising raw material for biofuels because it is abundant and does not directly compete with food and fodder markets. Lignocellulosic biomass can also be obtained from waste streams in forestry and agriculture, as well as from industrial or demolition materials (Roedl 2018). However, lignocellulosic biomass currently plays only a minor role as a raw material for biofuel production.