Alternative techniques and sustainable methods for the valorisation of lignocellulosic biomass

Abstract

The burning of crop residues is still a common, but heavily polluting, means of overcoming the problem of agricultural waste disposal. The main environmental damage comes from changes in soil properties (physical, chemical and biological), greenhouse gas emissions and decreasing crop yields. The use of crop residue biomass to replace fossil fuels is a valid alternative as it also supports farmers for land release and protects the environment. Many developing countries produce large quantities of agro-waste including rice husks, palm kernel shells, coconut shells, bagasse, milling residue-sawdust and plant biomass, such as grass. Residual biomass is a negative-cost feedstock for the production of fuels and commodity chemicals but could be used on a much larger scale. The realization of these economic benefits could provide the motivation necessary to achieve this goal and increase worldwide interest in biomass conversion for energy, fuels and chemicals. This chapter will describe some alternative uses for agricultural waste in Sub-Saharan Africa from bioenergy production to biomass conversion and briquetting.