Hemicelluloses and Lignin in Biorefineries

Hemicelluloses and Lignin in Biorefineries provides an understanding of lignocellulosic biomass, which is mainly composed of cellulose, hemicelluloses, and lignin. It promotes the valorization of these molecules in the context of the bioeconomy and presents hemicelluloses and lignin, which are generated in lignocellulosic biorefineries, as the molecules of the future. The viability of these molecules lies in their renewability and potential. This book covers all aspects of hemicelluloses and lignin including structure, biosynthesis, extraction, biodegradation, and conversion. The book also looks ahead to the socioeconomic and environmental value of biobased industry and emphasizes an understanding of the potential of lignocellulosic biomass.

Jean-Luc Wertz holds degrees in Chemical Civil Engineering and in Economic Science from Catholic University of Louvain, as well as a PhD from the same university in Applied Science, specializing in polymer chemistry. He has held various international positions in R&D, including Spontex, where he was worldwide director of R&D. He holds several patents related to various products. Jean-Luc Wertz is now Project Manager in biomass valorization at ValBiom and has worked for more than 8 years on lignocellulosic biorefineries and biobased products. He also wrote two books in 2010 and 2013. After completing a Master's degree in chemical sciences, Séverine Coppée got a PhD degree in Material Sciences at the University of Mons, Belgium. She then worked as a postdoctoral fellow in the field of organic photovoltaics in the US first and then for Materia Nova research center, Belgium. Since 2014, Dr. Coppée has been a project manager for GreenWin competitiveness cluster in Wallonia and is supporting the cluster members with building up biobased chemistry research projects through various funding opportunities, particularly in the framework of the Bio-Based Industries Consortium (BIC) of which GreenWin is an effective member. She is also an LCA advisor involved in the Life Cycle in Practice European project (co-funded by the LIFE + Environment Policy and Governance Programme of the EU) of which GreenWin is a partner. The LCiP project helps SMEs in France, Belgium, Portugal and Spain to reduce the environmental impacts of their products and services across the entire life cycle. Magali Deleu holds a Master's degree in Chemical Engineering and Bioindustries from Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech (University of Liege), as well as a PhD degree from the same University in Agricultural Sciences and Biological Engineering. After a postdoc at Lund University in Sweden, Dr. Deleu got a permanent position since 2003 as Research Associate and since 2014 as Senior Research Associate at Belgium National Funds for Scientific Research (F.R.S. - F.N.R.S.) at Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech in the Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics at Interfaces. She is engaged in research and education concerning the physico-chemical and membrane properties of surfactants from biomass. Her main research interest is to explore the molecular mechanisms involved in the perception of structurally different amphiphilic molecules by biological membranes. She has published about seventy papers on this topic. Aurore Richel holds a degree in Chemical Sciences and PhD in Chemistry from University of Liege. Prof. Richel is currently Professor and Head of the Laboratory of Biological and Industrial Chemistry at the University of Liege. She is engaged in research and education in the fields of biological chemistry, biorefining and industrial technologies. Prof. Richel is involved in numerous projects and industrial collaborations, specializing in the following areas: optimized use of vegetal biomass and waste for bioproducts and biofuels and development of new methodologies with low environmental footprints. She has published dozens publications on this topic.

Introduction. Carbohydrate-Active Enzymes. Cellulose, the Major Component of Biomass and Plant Cell Wall. Structure and Biosynthesis of Hemicelluloses. Biodegradation of Hemicelluloses. Structure and Biosynthesis of Lignin. Biodegradation of Lignin. Pretreatments of Lignocellulosic Biomass. Valorization of Hemicelluloses. Valorization of Lignin. Perspectives. Glossary