Sugar Beet Pulp and Research Efforts to Diversify Its Use

Abstract

Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L) is one of the most important sugar crops in the world. The sugar beet pulp (SBP) is the main by-product obtained from the extraction of sugar from the sugar beet root. The majority of SBP is used for animal feeding; however, in recent years, a series of worldwide studies have tried to add value to the by-product through the diversification into new products that improve the overall profitability of the raw material. Various uses for SBP have been evaluated based on its content of cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, pectin, and residual sugars. Many researchers identified that the SBP can be used as feedstock, including the production of methane, biohydrogen, bioethanol, bio-polyols, fertilizers, particleboard, prebiotics, and alternative materials for the paper industry. This chapter describes the general processes for the use of sugar beet pulp and the conditions for obtaining products derived from the processing of the raw material.