Rafal Marcin Lukasik

Optimizing Deep Eutectic Solvent Pretreatment for Enhanced Glucan Recovery from Miscanthus This work focuses on the use of the deep eutectic solvent composed of choline chloride and acetic acid (1:2) in the pretreatment of the perennial energy crop Miscanthus, commonly called silvergrass. The pretreatment time and temperature were optimized to achieve a maximum of the glucan and minimum of the lignin contents in the pretreated biomass.

The accomplishment of the biorefinery approach that involves the integration of multi-step valorisation of low value biomass feedstock into a variety of chemicals, fuels and bio-products is still very scarce. In this context, the present work proposes an advanced methodology that comprises cascaded approach of wheat straw valorisation.

Lignin represents a considerable source of renewable and bio-based carbon. Pulping processes enable lignin, together with all components of the lignocellulosic biomass, to enter valorizable streams. A current key objective is to further valorize this versatile aromatic biopolymer, and for that, to go beyond its mere energy use. Despite the emergence of numerous proposals for value-added products coming from lignin, most of them remain at the research stage.