Journal article
Efficient eucalypt cell wall deconstruction and conversion for sustainable lignocellulosic biofuels
Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, Vol.3, 190
2015
Abstract
In order to meet the world's growing energy demand and reduce the impact of greenhouse gas emissions resulting from fossil fuel combustion, renewable plant-based feedstocks for biofuel production must be considered. First generation biofuels, derived from starches of edible feedstocks such as corn, creates competition between food and fuel resources, both for the crop itself and the land on which it is grown. As such, biofuel synthesized from non-edible plant biomass (lignocellulose) generated on marginal agricultural land, will help to alleviate this competition. Eucalypts, the broadly defined taxa encompassing over 900 species of Eucalyptus, Corymbia and Angophora, are the most widely planted hardwood tree in the world, harvested mainly for timber, pulp and paper, and biomaterial products. More recently, due to their exceptional growth rate and amenability to grow under a wide range of environmental conditions, eucalypts are a leading option for the development of a sustainable lignocellulosic biofuels. However, efficient conversion of woody biomass into fermentable monomeric sugars is largely dependent on pretreatment of the cell wall, whose formation and complexity lends itself towards natural recalcitrance against its efficient deconstruction. A greater understanding of this complexity within the context of various pretreatments will allow the design of new and effective deconstruction processes for bioenergy production. In this review, we present the various pretreatment options for eucalypts, including research into understanding structure and formation of the eucalypt cell wall.
Details
- Title
- Efficient eucalypt cell wall deconstruction and conversion for sustainable lignocellulosic biofuels
- Authors
- Adam L Healey (Author) - University of QueenslandDavid J Lee (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and EngineeringAgnelo Furtado (Author) - University of QueenslandBlake A Simmons (Author) - University of QueenslandRobert J Henry (Author) - University of Queensland
- Publication details
- Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, Vol.3, 190; 14
- Publisher
- Frontiers Research Foundation
- Date published
- 2015
- DOI
- 10.3389/fbioe.2015.00190
- ISSN
- 2296-4185
- Copyright note
- Copyright © 2015 Healey, Lee, Furtado, Simmons and Henry. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
- Organisation Unit
- Tropical Forests and People Research Centre; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; Forest Industries Research Centre; Forest Research Institute
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99450052802621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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