Energy requirements for lignocellulose pretreatment processes

Abstract

Lignocellulosic materials require pretreatment steps to increase yields of biological conversion. In this paper the energy requirements of various pretreatment processes such as: acid hydrolysis, mechanical pulping, ball milling, etc are discussed. The energy requirements for sterilization of lignocellulosic material are also estimated. Severe pretreatment processes can consume a substantial fraction (greater than 20%) of the energy content of the material being processed. Several mild pretreatment processes, heat recovery methods and alternatives to sterilization are described. (Refs. 24).