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Delignification Strategies of Lignocellulosic Biomass: A Crucial Step for Effective Saccharification

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Handbook of Biorefinery Research and Technology

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Abstract

The interaction of lignin with hemicellulose hinders cellulose accessibility for the enzyme and limits its performance of bioconversion into chemicals and fuels. Delignification strategy adopted is one of the decisive steps to control, ensuring the viability of the overall bioprocess in biorefinery. The recalcitrant nature of lignin is responsible for the inhibition of enzymatic saccharification. The main phenomena implied in enzyme inhibition are developed. As there is a need for relevant delignification strategies, the present chapter summarizes the major physical, chemical, physicochemical, and biological pretreatment approaches, used in a single or integrated steps to remove lignin and get access to a delignified biomass of quality. The conditions required to ensure high delignification yield as well as the advantages and drawbacks of each pretreatment technique were developed. As the production of lignin inhibitors associated to pretreatment is one of the main barriers affecting the viability of biorefinery, there is a crucial need for application of suitable detoxification strategies to selectively reduce the inhibitory effects of lignin and/or lignin-derived phenolics without a significant loss of fermentable sugars. The various strategies are explored. Finally, as lignin is the only aromatic polymer found in nature which has potential applications in production of biomaterials and chemicals, the development of a sustainable lignocellulosic biorefinery combining the synergetic valorization of polysaccharides and lignin is targeted. Recent developments on this aspect are discussed in this chapter.

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Abbreviations

AFEX:

Ammonia fiber expansion method

BSA:

Bovine serum albumin

CBH:

Cellobiohydrolase

DES:

Deep eutectic solvent

EG:

Endoglucanase

IL:

Ionic liquid

LCC:

Lignin carbohydrate complex

LCB:

Lignocellulosic biomass

LPMO:

Lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase

PEG:

Polyethylene glycol

PEI:

Polyethylenimine

SE:

Steam explosion

β–G:

β–glucosidase

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, IPHC, UMR 7178, Strasbourg, France

    Maud Villain-Gambier, Paul-Loup Pasquet & Dominique Trebouet

Authors
  1. Maud Villain-Gambier
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  2. Paul-Loup Pasquet
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  3. Dominique Trebouet
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Maud Villain-Gambier .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Biochemical Eng. & Biotechnol., Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Dehli, India

    Virendra Bisaria

Section Editor information

  1. Carbohydrate Enzyme Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, India

    Arun Goyal PhD

  2. School of Energy Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, India

    Arun Goyal PhD

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Villain-Gambier, M., Pasquet, PL., Trebouet, D. (2024). Delignification Strategies of Lignocellulosic Biomass: A Crucial Step for Effective Saccharification. In: Bisaria, V. (eds) Handbook of Biorefinery Research and Technology. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6724-9_73-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6724-9_73-1

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  • Print ISBN: 978-94-007-6724-9

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