Process Integration for Cost-Effective Lignocellulosic Bioethanol Production-An Avenue for Promoting Circular Bioeconomy

Abstract

Rapid industrialization and simultaneous depletion of fossil fuels have led to the exploration of nonconventional fuel from different bioresources. Different kinds of renewable bioresources such as starch, cellulose, and algal biomass are available for the production of bioethanol, biodiesel, biogasoline, etc. However, bioethanol production from lignocellulosic materials is gaining increasing attention due to its easy adaptability to the engine and environmental benefits. Nevertheless, commercialization of lignocellulosic bioethanol is limited due to the recalcitrant nature of components of lignocellulosic biomass and costly production processes. Therefore, the development of a cost-effective approach is necessary to generate competitive lignocellulosic bioethanol production. Apart from different bioresources or biomasses as feedstock, process integration and replacement of the linear production model with a circular model play a major role in economizing bioethanol production. This chapter describes the various sources and compositions of lignocellulosic biomass, involvement of different stages, and their technical challenges in the bioethanol production, and lignocellulosic wastes as a resource of circular bioeconomy. In addition to this, the major ways of process integration in bioethanol production from the lignocellulosic wastes have also been described. � 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.