Model projections show that production of high-value products from microalgae could be profitable nowadays and commodities will become profitable within 10 years.

No abstract

Acetone-based organosolv fractionation of wheat straw was studied to produce sugars and lignin in a lignocellulose biorefinery. The influence of acetone-water ratio, reaction time, and temperature on fractionation degree, lignin yield, and enzymatic digestibility of the cellulose fraction was examined. The solvent-water ratio was found to influence delignification and hemicellulose hydrolysis by its effect on lignin solubility and pH. Organosolv treatment in 50:50% w/w acetone-water during 1 h at 205°C resulted in 82% hemicellulose hydrolysis, 79% delignification, and 93% cellulose recovery. A substantial part of the sugars formed upon hemicellulose hydrolysis seems to have reacted further including possible formation of lignin-furfural condensation products. Finally, aqueous acetone pretreatment was found to substantially improve the enzymatic digestibility of the cellulose fraction (glucose yield: up to 87% vs 16% for untreated wheat straw).