Recent Developments in Lignocellulosic Biofuel Production with Nanotechnological Intervention: An Emphasis on Ethanol

Abstract

Biofuel, an inexhaustible fuel source, plays a pivotal role in the contemporary era by diminishing the dependence on non-renewable energy sources and facilitating the mitigation of CO2 emissions. Due to the many constraints in existing technology and the resulting increased costs, the production of biofuels on a large scale is a laborious process. Furthermore, the methods used to convert varied feedstock into the intended biofuel may vary based on the specific techniques and materials involved. The demand for bioethanol is increasing worldwide due to the implementation of regulations by world nations that mandates the blending of bioethanol with petrol. In this regard, second-generation bioethanol made from lignocellulosic biomass is emerging at a rapid rate. Pre-treatment, hydrolysis, and fermentation are some of the technical, practical, and economic hurdles that the biochemical conversion method must overcome. Nanoparticles (NPs) provide a very effective approach to address the present obstacles in using biomass, due to their selectivity, energy efficiency, and time management capabilities, while also reducing costs. NPs smaller dimensions allow them to be more effective at interacting with lignocellulosic components at low concentrations to release carbohydrates that can be utilized to produce bioethanol. This article provides a concise overview of various biofuels and the nanotechnological advancements in producing it, with a particular emphasis on ethanol. It provides a detailed discussion on the application of nanotechnology at each stage of ethanol production, with a particular emphasis on understanding the mechanism of how nanoparticles interact with lignocellulose.

Advancements in enzyme immobilization on magnetic nanomaterials: toward sustainable industrial applications

“…The content presented above highlights a growing interest in nanotechnology applications in bioreactor projects, focusing on using enzymatic magnetic nanoparticles. Dutta S. et al (2023) 505 highlight the use of nanoparticles in various stages of bioethanol production from lignocellulosic (LB) materials, helping to overcome challenges associated with complex compositions and inefficient degradation processes. The authors outline nanotechnological methods during pretreatment that offer significant advantages for different types of LB, improving both biofuel yield and quality.…”

Application of natural fungi in bioconversion of lignocellulosic waste to second-generation ethanol

“…The development and use of technologies for obtaining ethanol from cellulose-containing plant waste has significant advantages: increasing national energy security, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, involving the development of the latest biotechnologies (Guimarães et al, 2023). However, there are issues with the use of these materials including several technological and scale up constraints, which still need to be overcome (Dutta et al, 2023). As a result, the 2G bioethanol technology currently is not used on a large scale, representing only 3% of the bioethanol production worldwide (Sharma et al, 2020).…”