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The secret structure of plants: Why are wood fibers so important for biofuel production?
Lignocellulose is a widely available raw material on Earth and is extremely important for the production of biofuels. Wood fiber is composed of three main components: cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. Each of these components has unique chemical properties, making the processing and application of wood fiber full of challenges.
Wood fiber is a composite of three chemical components, which makes it surprisingly resistant to degradation, a phenomenon known as "refractoryness."
Lignin is a highly heterogeneous and highly cross-linked polymer, mainly composed of 3 to 4 monomers, the ratio of which varies from species to species. Because the chemical structure of lignin is rich in aromatic properties, it is relatively water-resistant and rigid.
The value of lignin is generally valued, but it is usually regarded as a fuel and its utilization has not been fully realized.
Hemicellulose is composed of branched polysaccharides, usually linked to lignin through ester bonds of uronic acid, which makes it more difficult to extract phenol sugars from wood fibers. As the second source of polysaccharides in plants, cellulose has poor solubility in water, but it can be extracted through chemical or biological degradation.
Special energy crops and applications
Many crops are of interest for providing high yields of biomass, including trees and certain grasses such as Spartina (Miscanthus giganteus) and sugar cane that can be harvested multiple times per year. Sugarcane is not only a rich source of sugar, it also produces bagasse with woody fiber as a by-product.
The potential of biofuels
The use of wood fibers as energy has a long history. Since the mid-20th century, people's interest in refining liquid fuels from wood fibers has gradually increased. In particular, ethanol produced by fermentation from lignocellulose is seen as a complement to fossil fuels. However, the source of wood fiber has a direct impact on its carbon-neutral properties.
Wood fiber derived from plant residues produced every year can be considered carbon neutral, while wood fiber derived from trees is difficult to achieve carbon neutrality in the short term.
Ethanol is not the only option. Other fuels derived from wood fibers, including butanol and dimethylfuran, have potential. However, during the production of ethanol, the sugars in the wood fibers are often trapped within the structure.
Prospects of Research
Current research shows that a variety of chemical substances can be extracted from wood fibers, most of which are related to the hydrolysis of cellulose. In addition, wood fibers are also considered for the production of biocomposites, such as particle panels and wood-plastic composites. In areas where forest resources are scarce, using agricultural and sawmill residues as raw materials for new green composite materials will become a trend in the future.
Biocomposites have attracted a lot of attention as renewable and low-cost alternatives, in line with the policy of "resource recycling".
Although wood fiber still faces challenges in biofuels and other applications, its huge potential makes it an important part of future sustainable development. Facing the growing global energy demand and environmental challenges, we need to think about: How to better utilize these plant resources to promote future renewable energy development?
