New research simultaneously processes hemicellulose and cellulose

摘要

Researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (WI, USA) have streamlined the process for converting lignocellulosic biomass into high-demand chemicals or energy-dense liquid transportation fuel by using a new-conversion process with a biomass-derived solvent. Using γ-valerolactone (GVL), the researchers were able to simultaneously process hemicellulose and cellulose, two main components of plant biomass that react at different rates, eliminating the need for costly pretreatment steps for separation.