Conversion of Lignocellulosic Biomass to Bioethanol: An Overview with a Focus on Pretreatment

Abstract

The present review article aims to highlight various pretreatment technologies involved in the biochemical conversion of biomass to bioethanol from lignocellulosic biomass without the process modification. Pretreatment technologies are aimed to increase the enzyme susceptibility to the biomass for high yield of ethanol production through microbial fermentation. Broadly, pretreatment methods are divided into four categories including physical, chemical, physico-chemical and biological. This paper comprehensively reviewed on the lignocellulosic biomass to bioethanol process with focuses on pretreatment methods, their mechanisms, combination of different pretreatment technologies, the addition of external chemical agents, advantages, and disadvantages. It also discussed the ethanol productions from biomass in details without disturbing the process integrity.