About this Research Topic
Compared to traditional first-generation feedstocks like corn starch to ethanol, biofuel production from lignocellulosic biomass is a complex process because lignocellulose is composed of complex polysaccharides which need to be hydrolyzed to simple sugars for biofuel conversion. Pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass is done for reducing the recalcitrance of lignocellulose and to obtain carbohydrate monomers, and can be achieved by physical, chemical, or biological methods. Efficient and cost-effective hydrolysis technologies are then needed to create sugars, which are subsequently converted to biofuels using various technologies. Focus needs to be given to identify novel microbial strains and develop simultaneous saccharification technologies, clean and efficient, that can lead to the successful commercialization of lignocellulosic biofuels.
Lignocellulosic feedstocks and conversion technologies that are currently used, face challenges of low biofuel yield and high input cost, therefore novel feedstocks with high biofuel production potential need to be identified. These feedstocks should generate ample biomass with minimal input cost to satisfy the increasing biofuel demand. Conversion techniques are cost and energy intensive, and the production process is a multi-step process that also generates acidic or alkaline wastewater. Pretreatment methods are energy intensive too. Therefore, new microbial strains and engineered enzymes should be used for efficient conversion to biofuels. New technologies need to be developed which are clean, cost effective, and efficient.
This Research Topic explores novel feedstocks, recent advancements, and technological developments in lignocellulosic biofuels production. We encourage submissions of original research articles, review articles, short communications, case studies, and other papers that cover the following topics:
• Novel lignocellulosic feedstocks for biofuel production
• Effective utilization of lignocellulosic biomass for biofuel production
• Development of efficient pretreatment and hydrolysis methods
• Advanced biotechnological approaches for lignocellulosic biofuels production: engineered microbial strains and enzymes.
• Integrated biorefinery approach for biofuels and value-added products from lignocellulosic biomass
• Techno-economic evaluation of emerging feedstocks and clean technologies
• Case studies and Life cycle assessment studies
Lignocellulosic feedstocks and conversion technologies that are currently used, face challenges of low biofuel yield and high input cost, therefore novel feedstocks with high biofuel production potential need to be identified. These feedstocks should generate ample biomass with minimal input cost to satisfy the increasing biofuel demand. Conversion techniques are cost and energy intensive, and the production process is a multi-step process that also generates acidic or alkaline wastewater. Pretreatment methods are energy intensive too. Therefore, new microbial strains and engineered enzymes should be used for efficient conversion to biofuels. New technologies need to be developed which are clean, cost effective, and efficient.
This Research Topic explores novel feedstocks, recent advancements, and technological developments in lignocellulosic biofuels production. We encourage submissions of original research articles, review articles, short communications, case studies, and other papers that cover the following topics:
• Novel lignocellulosic feedstocks for biofuel production
• Effective utilization of lignocellulosic biomass for biofuel production
• Development of efficient pretreatment and hydrolysis methods
• Advanced biotechnological approaches for lignocellulosic biofuels production: engineered microbial strains and enzymes.
• Integrated biorefinery approach for biofuels and value-added products from lignocellulosic biomass
• Techno-economic evaluation of emerging feedstocks and clean technologies
• Case studies and Life cycle assessment studies
Keywords: Waste to energy, Biofuel, Bioethanol, Lignocellulose, Pretreatment
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
