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Bioethanol Production from Woody Biomass: Recent Advances on the Effect of Pretreatments on the Bioconversion Process and Energy Yield Aspects

Author

Listed:
  • Maria El Hage

    (Laboratoire LaSIE, UMR-CNRS 7356, La Rochelle Université, Avenue Michel Crépeau, 17042 La Rochelle, France)

  • Nicolas Louka

    (Centre d’Analyses et de Recherche, Unité de Recherche Technologies et Valorisation Agro-Alimentaire, Faculté des Sciences, Université Saint-Joseph de Beyrouth, Riad El Solh, P.O. Box 17-5208, Beirut 1104 2020, Lebanon)

  • Sid-Ahmed Rezzoug

    (Laboratoire LaSIE, UMR-CNRS 7356, La Rochelle Université, Avenue Michel Crépeau, 17042 La Rochelle, France)

  • Thierry Maugard

    (Laboratoire LIENSs, UMR-CNRS 7266, La Rochelle Université, Avenue Michel Crépeau, 17042 La Rochelle, France)

  • Sophie Sablé

    (Laboratoire LIENSs, UMR-CNRS 7266, La Rochelle Université, Avenue Michel Crépeau, 17042 La Rochelle, France)

  • Mohamed Koubaa

    (Université de Technologie de Compiègne, ESCOM, TIMR (Integrated Transformations of Renewable Matter), Centre de Recherche Royallieu, CS 60319, 60203 Compiègne CEDEX, France)

  • Espérance Debs

    (Department of Biology, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, University of Balamand, P.O. Box 100, Tripoli 1300, Lebanon)

  • Zoulikha Maache-Rezzoug

    (Laboratoire LaSIE, UMR-CNRS 7356, La Rochelle Université, Avenue Michel Crépeau, 17042 La Rochelle, France)

Abstract

As greenhouse gas emissions are continuously increasing, research is now privileging greener and more sustainable human activities. An attractive strategy in the pursuit of sustainability is the valorization of lignocellulosic biomasses for the production of bioethanol. This approach relies on the bioconversion of wood and agricultural waste, which are abundant globally. They represent considerable sources of fermentable sugars that can be recovered through enzymatic hydrolysis. However, the presence of lignin in wood waste makes it more recalcitrant to enzymatic hydrolysis, and reduces the efficiency of the bioconversion process. Therefore, a pretreatment preceding hydrolysis is highly necessary in order to disrupt the resistant structure of woody biomass. The type and severity of the pretreatment affect the outcomes of the hydrolysis and fermentation steps, just as they strongly influence the overall process costs. Given this context, bioenergy production from this biomass is a promising alternative method of sustainably responding to energy demands while reducing the amounts of waste left in nature. The aim of this review is to thoroughly compare the recent bioconversion processes performed on woody substrates over the past five years, with a focus on thermomechanical pretreatments. Moreover, this review will discuss the outcomes of their separate steps, their impact on the overall process, and their energetic aspects.

Suggested Citation

  • Maria El Hage & Nicolas Louka & Sid-Ahmed Rezzoug & Thierry Maugard & Sophie Sablé & Mohamed Koubaa & Espérance Debs & Zoulikha Maache-Rezzoug, 2023. "Bioethanol Production from Woody Biomass: Recent Advances on the Effect of Pretreatments on the Bioconversion Process and Energy Yield Aspects," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-31, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2023:i:13:p:5052-:d:1182860
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Vinícius P. Shibukawa & Lucas Ramos & Mónica M. Cruz-Santos & Carina A. Prado & Fanny M. Jofre & Gabriel L. de Arruda & Silvio S. da Silva & Solange I. Mussatto & Júlio C. dos Santos, 2023. "Impact of Product Diversification on the Economic Sustainability of Second-Generation Ethanol Biorefineries: A Critical Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-30, September.
    2. Audibert, Edwige & Floret, Juliette & Quintero, Adriana & Martel, Frédéric & Rémond, Caroline & Paës, Gabriel, 2025. "Determination of trade-offs between 2G bioethanol production yields and pretreatment costs for industrially steam exploded woody biomass," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 380(C).
    3. Akter, Hosne Ara & Huang, Yu-Kai & Dwivedi, Puneet, 2025. "Developing a supply chain model for sustainable aviation fuel using logging residues in Georgia, United States," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).

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