Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Heat and Mass Transport in Processing of Lignocellulosic Biomass for Fuels and Chemicals

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Sustainable Biotechnology

Abstract

Lignocellulosic biomass, a major feedstock for renewable biofuels and chemicals, is processed by various thermochemical and/or biochemical means. This multi-step processing often involves reactive transformations limited by heat and mass transport. These limitations are dictated by restrictions including (1) plant anatomy, (2) complex ultra-structure and chemical composition of plant cell walls, (3) process engineering requirements or, (4) a combination of these factors. The plant macro- and micro-structural features impose limitations on chemical and enzyme accessibility to carbohydrate containing polymers (cellulose and hemicellulose) which can limit conversion rates and extents. Multiphase systems containing insoluble substrates, soluble catalysts and, in some cases, gaseous steam can pose additional heat and mass transfer restrictions leading to non-uniform reactions. In this chapter, some of these transport challenges relevant to biochemical conversion are discussed in order to underscore the importance of a fundamental understanding of these processes for development of robust and cost-effective routes to fuels and products from lignocellulosic biomass.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. McMillan, J. D. Pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass. In: ACS Symposium Series; 1994; 1994. pp. 292–324.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Wyman, C. E. (1996) Ethanol production from lignocellulosic biomass: overview. In: Wyman C. E., ed. Handbook on Ethanol. Washington, DC: Taylor & Francis, 1–18.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Wyman, C. E. (2001) Twenty years of trials, tribulations, and research progress in bioethanol technology – Selected key events along the way. Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology 91–93, 5–21.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Wyman, C. E., Dale, B. E., Elander, R. T., Holtzapple, M., Ladisch, M. R., and Lee, Y. Y. (2005) Coordinated development of leading biomass pretreatment technologies. Bioresource Technology 96, 1959–1966.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Himmel, M. E., Ding, S. Y., Johnson, D. K., et al. (2007) Biomass recalcitrance: Engineering plants and enzymes for biofuels production. Science 315, 804–807.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Ramos, L. P. (2003) The chemistry involved in the steam treatment of lignocellulosic materials. Quimica Nova 26, 863–871.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Knauf, M. and Moniruzzaman, M. (2004) Lignocellulosic biomass processing: A perspective. International Sugar Journal 106, 147–150.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Schell, D. J., Farmer, J., Newman, M., and McMillan, J. D. (2003) Dilute-sulfuric acid pretreatment of corn stover in pilot-scale reactor – Investigation of yields, kinetics, and enzymatic digestibilities of solids. Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology 105, 69–85.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Sun, Y. and Cheng, J. Y. (2002) Hydrolysis of lignocellulosic materials for ethanol production: a review. Bioresource Technology 83, 1–11.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Tucker, M. P., Kim, K. H., Newman, M. M., and Nguyen, Q. A. (2003) Effects of temperature and moisture on dilute acid steam explosion pretreatment of corn stover and cellulase enzyme digestibility. Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology 105, 165–177.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Viamajala, S., Selig, M. J., Vinzant, T. B., et al. (2006) Catalyst transport in corn stover internodes – Elucidating transport mechanisms using Direct Blue-I. Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology 130, 509–527.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Kazi, K. M. F., Jollez, P., and Chornet, E. (1998) Preimpregnation: an important step for biomass refining processes. Biomass and Bioenergy 15, 125–141.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Kim, K. H., Tucker, M. P., and Nguyen, Q. A. (2002) Effects of pressing lignocellulosic biomass on sugar yield in two-stage dilute-acid hydrolysis process. Biotechnology Progress 18, 489–494.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Datta, R. (1981) Energy requirements for lignocellulose pretreatment processes. Process Biochemistry 16, 16–19.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Aden, A., Ruth, M., Ibsen, K., et al. Lignocellulosic biomass to ethanol process design and economics utilizing co-current dilute acid prehydrolysis and enzymatic hydrolysis for corn stover. Technical Report NREL/TP-510-32438. Golden, CO: National Renewable Energy Laboratory; 2002. Report No.: NREL/TP–510–32438.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Xiao, Z. Z., Zhang, X., Gregg, D. J., and Saddler, J. N. (2004) Effects of sugar inhibition on cellulases and beta-glucosidase during enzymatic hydrolysis of softwood substrates. Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology 113, 1115–1126.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Holtzapple, M. T., Caram, H. S., and Humphrey, A. E. (1984) Determining the inhibition constants in the HCH-1 model of cellulose hydrolysis. Biotechnology and Bioengineering 26, 753–757.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Asenjo, J. A. (1983) Maximizing the formation of glucose in the enzymatic-hydrolysis of insoluble cellulose. Biotechnology and Bioengineering 25, 3185–3190.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Rao, M., Deshpande, V., Seeta, R., Srinivasan, M. C., and Mishra, C. (1985) Hydrolysis of sugarcane bagasse by mycelial biomass of Penicillium funiculosum. Biotechnology and Bioengineering 27, 1070–1072.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Beltrame, P. L., Carniti, P., Focher, B., Marzetti, A., and Sarto, V. (1984) Enzymatic-hydrolysis of cellulosic materials - a kinetic-study. Biotechnology and Bioengineering 26, 1233–1238.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Mosolova, T. P., Kalyuzhnyi, S. V., Varfolomeyev, S. D., and Velikodvorskaya, G. A. (1993) Purification and properties of Clostridium thermocellum endoglucanase-5 produced in Escherichia coli. Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology 42, 9–18.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Hodge, D. B., Karim, M. N., Schell, D. J., and McMillan, J. D. (2008) Soluble and insoluble solids contributions to high-solids enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulose. Bioresource Technology 99, 8940–8948.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Jorgensen, H., Vibe-Pedersen, J., Larsen, J., and Felby, C. (2007) Liquefaction of lignocellulose at high-solids concentrations. Biotechnology and Bioengineering 96, 862–870.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Coussot, P. (2005) Rheometry of Pastes, Suspensions and Granular Materials – Application in Industry and Environment. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  25. Switzer, L. H. and Klingenberg, D. J. (2004) Flocculation in simulations of sheared fiber suspensions. International Journal of Multiphase Flow 30, 67–87.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Stickel, J. J. and Powell, R. L. (2005) Fluid mechanics and rheology of dense suspensions. Annual Review of Fluid Mechanics 37, 129–149.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Viamajala, S., McMillan, J. D., Schell, D. J., and Elander, R. T. (2009) Rheology of corn stover slurries at high solids concentrations – effects of saccharification and particle size. Bioresource Technology 100, 925–934.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Chesson, A., Gardner, P. T., and Wood, T. J. (1997) Cell wall porosity and available surface area of wheat straw and wheat grain fractions. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 75, 289–295.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Gardner, P. T., Wood, T. J., Chesson, A., and Stuchbury, T. (1999) Effect of degradation on the porosity and surface area of forage cell walls of differing lignin content. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 79, 11–18.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Ishizawa, C. I., Davis, M. F., Schell, D. F., and Johnson, D. K. (2007) Porosity and its effect on the digestibility of dilute sulfuric acid pretreated corn stover. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 55, 2575–2581.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Odriscoll, D., Read, S. M., and Steer, M. W. (1993) Determination of cel wall porosity by microscopy - walls of cultured-cells and pollen tubes. Acta Botanica Neerlandica 42, 237–244.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Munoz, I. G., Mowbray, S. L., and Stahlberg, J. (2003) The catalytic module of Cel7D from Phanerochaete chrysosporium as a chiral selector: structural studies of its complex with the beta blocker (R)-propranolol. Acta Crystallographica Section D-Biological Crystallography 59, 637–643.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Munoz, I. G., Ubhayasekera, W., Henriksson, H., et al. (2001) Family 7 cellobiohydrolases from Phanerochaete chrysosporium: Crystal structure of the catalytic module of Cel7D (CBH58) at 1.32 angstrom resolution and homology models of the isozymes. Journal of Molecular Biology 314, 1097–1111.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Berlin, A., Balakshin, M., Gilkes, N., et al. (2006) Inhibition of cellulase, xylanase and beta-glucosidase activities by softwood lignin preparations. Journal of Biotechnology 125, 198–209.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Palonen, H., Tjerneld, F., Zacchi, G., and Tenkanen, M. (2004) Adsorption of Trichoderma reesei CBH I and EG II and their catalytic domains on steam pretreated softwood and isolated lignin. Journal of Biotechnology 107, 65–72.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Yang, B. and Wyman, C. E. (2006) BSA treatment to enhance enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose in lignin containing substrates. Biotechnology and Bioengineering 94, 611–617.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Cara, C., Ruiz, E., Ballesteros, I., Negro, M. J., and Castro, E. (2006) Enhanced enzymatic hydrolysis of olive tree wood by steam explosion and alkaline peroxide delignification. Process Biochemistry 41, 423–429.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Gould, J. M. (1984) Alkaline peroxide delignification of agricultural residues to enhance enzymatic saccharification. Biotechnology and Bioengineering 26, 46–52.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Kim, S. and Holtzapple, M. T. (2006) Effect of structural features on enzyme digestibility of corn stover. Bioresource Technology 97, 583–591.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Donohoe, B. S., Decker, S. R., Tucker, M. P., Himmel, M. E., and Vinzant, T. B. (2008) Visualizing lignin coalescence and migration through maize cell walls following thermochemical pretreatment. Biotechnology and Bioengineering 101, 913–925.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Kallavus, U. and Gravitis, J. (1995) A comparative investigation of the ultrastructure of steam exploded wood with light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Holzforschung 49, 182–188.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Selig, M. J., Viamajala, S., Decker, S. R., Tucker, M. P., Himmel, M. E., and Vinzant, T. B. (2007) Deposition of lignin droplets produced during dilute acid pretreatment of maize stems retards enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose. Biotechnology Progress 23, 1333–1339.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Zhu, Y., Lee, Y. Y., and Elander, R. T. (2004) Dilute-acid pretreatment of corn stover using a high-solids percolation reactor. Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology 117, 103–114.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Esteghlalian, A., Hashimoto, A. G., Fenske, J. J., and Penner, M. H. (1997) Modeling and optimization of the dilute-sulfuric-acid pretreatment of corn stover, poplar and switchgrass. Bioresource Technology 59, 129–136.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Soderstrom, J., Pilcher, L., Galbe, M., and Zacchi, G. (2003) Two-step steam pretreatment of softwood by dilute H2SO4 impregnation for ethanol production. Biomass and Bioenergy 24, 475–486.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Raven, P. H., Evert, R. F., and Eichhorn, S. E. (1992) Biology of Plants 5th ed. New York: Worth Publishers, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  47. Selig, M. J., Knoshaug, E. P., Adney, W. S., Himmel, M. E., and Decker, S. R. (2008) Synergistic enhancement of cellobiohydrolase performance on pretreated corn stover by addition of xylanase and esterase activities. Bioresource Technology 99, 4997–5005.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Malkov, S., Tikka, P., and Gullichsen, J. (2001) Towards complete impregnation of wood chips with aqueous solutions – Part 2. Studies on water penetration into softwood chips. Paperi Ja Puu-Paper and Timber 83, 468–473.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Donohoe, B. S., Selig, M. J., Viamajala, S., Vinzant, T. B., Adney, W. S., and Himmel, M. E. (2008) Detecting cellulase penetration into corn stover cell walls by immuno-electron microscopy. Biotechnology and Bioengineering (Accepted for publication).

    Google Scholar 

  50. Maloney, M. T., Chapman, T. W., and Baker, A. J. (1985) Dilute acid-hydrolysis of paper birch – Kinetic studies of xylan and acetyl group hydrolysis. Biotechnology and Bioengineering 27, 355–361.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Shiang, M., Linden, J. C., Mohagheghi, A., Grohmann, K., and Himmel, M. E. (1991) Regulation of cellulase synthesus in Acidothermus cellulolyticus. Biotechnology Progress 7, 315–322.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. Hatfield, R. and Fukushima, R. S. (2005) Can lignin be accurately measured? In 2005: Crop Science Soc Amer, pp. 832–839.

    Google Scholar 

  53. Hatfield, R. and Vermerris, W. (2001) Lignin formation in plants. The dilemma of linkage specificity. Plant Physiology 126, 1351–1357.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. Syrjanen, K. and Brunow, G. (1998) Oxidative cross coupling of p-hydroxycinnamic alcohols with dimeric arylglycerol beta-aryl ether lignin model compounds. The effect of oxidation potentials. Journal of the Chemical Society-Perkin Transactions 1, 3425–3429.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  55. Davin, L. B. and Lewis, N. G. (2000) Dirigent proteins and dirigent sites explain the mystery of specificity of radical precursor coupling in lignan and lignin biosynthesis. Plant Physiology 123, 453–461.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  56. Domburg, G. E. and Sergeeva, V. N. (1969) Thermal degradation of sulphuric acid lignins of hard wood. Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry 1, 53–62.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  57. Meunier-Goddik, L. and Penner, M. H. (1999) Enzyme-catalyzed saccharification of model celluloses in the presence of lignacious residues. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 47, 346–351.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  58. Hespell, R. B., Obryan, P. J., Moniruzzaman, M., and Bothast, R. J. (1997) Hydrolysis by commercial enzyme mixtures of AFEX-treated corn fiber and isolated xylans'. Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology 62, 87–97.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  59. Saha, B. C. and Cotta, M. A. (2007) Enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation of lime pretreated wheat straw to ethanol. Journal of Chemical Technology & Biotechnology 82, 913–919.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  60. Palonen, H. and Viikari, L. (2004) Role of oxidative enzymatic treatments on enzymatic hydrolysis of softwood. Biotechnology and Bioengineering 86, 550–557.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  61. Pimenova, N. V. and Hanley, A. R. (2004) Effect of corn stover concentration on rheological characteristics. Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology 113, 347–360.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  62. Pimenova, N. V. and Hanley, T. R. (2003) Measurement of rheological properties of corn stover suspensions. Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology 105, 383–392.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  63. Sato, T. (1995) Rheology of suspensions. Journal of Coatings Technology 67, 69–79.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  64. Jacobsen, S. E., and Wyman, C. E. (2001) Heat transfer considerations in design of a batch tube reactor ear biomass hydrolysis. Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology 91, 377–386.

    Google Scholar 

  65. Stuhler, S. L., and Wyman, C. E. (2003) Estimation of temperature transients for biomass pretreatment in tubular batch reactors and impact on xylan hydrolysis kinetics. Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology 105, 101–114.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was funded by the US DOE Office of the Biomass Program. The authors also acknowledge the valuable intellectual insights provided by Dr. James McMillan, National Bioenergy Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, on issues related to transport processes in biochemical conversion of lignocellulosic biomass.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 43606-3390, Spain

    Sridhar Viamajala

  2. Chemical and Biosciences Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO, 80401, USA

    Bryon S. Donohoe, Stephen R. Decker, Todd B. Vinzant, Michael J. Selig & Michael E. Himmel

  3. National Bioenergy Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO, 80401, USA

    Melvin P. Tucker

Authors
  1. Sridhar Viamajala
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Bryon S. Donohoe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Stephen R. Decker
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Todd B. Vinzant
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Michael J. Selig
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Michael E. Himmel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Melvin P. Tucker
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sridhar Viamajala .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Bradford, 16704, U.S.A.

    Om V. Singh

  2. Edgewood Chemical Biological Center, US Army Medical Research, Blackhawk Road 5183, Aberdeen Proving Ground, 21010-5424, U.S.A.

    Steven P. Harvey

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2010 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Viamajala, S. et al. (2010). Heat and Mass Transport in Processing of Lignocellulosic Biomass for Fuels and Chemicals. In: Singh, O., Harvey, S. (eds) Sustainable Biotechnology. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-3295-9_1

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation