Lignocellulosic material (LCM) has
been considered as a potent
feedstock for biofuel production either as gaseous, liquid, and/or
solid fuel to meet the energy demands. Conversion of lignocellulosic
materials to biofuels is possible mainly by two processes, i.e., thermochemical
and biochemical. For overall efficiency of processes designed to convert
the lignocellulosic materials into the desired biofuel, it is important
to understand the characteristics of these lignocellulosic components.
The present study aims for physicochemical characterization of common
lignocellulosic agricultural residues available in India, i.e., rice
straw, rice husk, cotton stalk, wheat straw, bagasse, corn stover,
sorghum stalk, mustard stalk, corn cob, and jatropha pruning. Physical
and chemical characterization of lignocellulosic samples is carried
out by higher heating value, crystallinity index, thermal properties,
CHNS/O analysis, FTIR, metal analysis, and compositional analysis.
Among all of the biomass samples analyzed, corn cob has the highest
content of cellulose and hemicellulose, i.e., 61.2% (w/w), making
it the most potent feedstock for production of biofuels using biochemical
process, whereas cotton stalk has relatively higher thermochemical
potential due to its higher heating value (19.2 MJ/kg). Rice husk
and rice straw have the highest ash content, i.e., 17.4 and 13.7%
(w/w), respectively, indicating a significant amount of undesirable
material.
