Sustainable Biorefinery Technologies
for Agro-Residues: Challenges
and Perspectives
6
Desikan Ramesh, Thangavelu Kiruthika,
and Subburamu Karthikeyan
Abstract
Agro-residues are kind of the lignocellulosic biomass feedstocks used for both
biofuel and biochemical production via a biorefinery approach. The renewable
bio-products from these residues have the potential to replace the petroleum
sources. Immediately after the harvest of the first crop, farmers have a short
period for land preparation to raise the next consecutive crop. Due to lower prices,
huge quantity, and poor logistics, farmers are forced to burning of residues at an
open field. Existing disposal methods of agro-residues management such as in
situ burning would create air pollution, and the biomass is burnt into ashes
without utilizing their biofuel or biochemical potentials. The biorefinery would
aim for minimum or zero waste generation and to produce biofuels and valueadded biochemicals from agro-residues. The process selection for a biorefinery is
entirely dependent on targeted end products. This chapter briefly discusses the
valorization of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin of agro-residues for biofuels
and biochemicals production. The barriers to the commercialization of
biorefinery plants are also discussed.
Keywords
Biorefinery · Lignocellulosic wastes · Agro-residues · Biovalorization ·
Biochemicals · Biofuels
D. Ramesh (*)
Horticultural College and Research Institute for Women, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University,
Tiruchirapalli, India
e-mail: rameshd@tnau.ac.in
T. Kiruthika · S. Karthikeyan
Department of Renewable Energy Engineering, Agricultural Engineering College and Research
Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India
# Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
V. Venkatramanan et al. (eds.), Sustainable Bioeconomy,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-7321-7_6
101
for Agro-Residues: Challenges
and Perspectives
6
Desikan Ramesh, Thangavelu Kiruthika,
and Subburamu Karthikeyan
Abstract
Agro-residues are kind of the lignocellulosic biomass feedstocks used for both
biofuel and biochemical production via a biorefinery approach. The renewable
bio-products from these residues have the potential to replace the petroleum
sources. Immediately after the harvest of the first crop, farmers have a short
period for land preparation to raise the next consecutive crop. Due to lower prices,
huge quantity, and poor logistics, farmers are forced to burning of residues at an
open field. Existing disposal methods of agro-residues management such as in
situ burning would create air pollution, and the biomass is burnt into ashes
without utilizing their biofuel or biochemical potentials. The biorefinery would
aim for minimum or zero waste generation and to produce biofuels and valueadded biochemicals from agro-residues. The process selection for a biorefinery is
entirely dependent on targeted end products. This chapter briefly discusses the
valorization of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin of agro-residues for biofuels
and biochemicals production. The barriers to the commercialization of
biorefinery plants are also discussed.
Keywords
Biorefinery · Lignocellulosic wastes · Agro-residues · Biovalorization ·
Biochemicals · Biofuels
D. Ramesh (*)
Horticultural College and Research Institute for Women, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University,
Tiruchirapalli, India
e-mail: rameshd@tnau.ac.in
T. Kiruthika · S. Karthikeyan
Department of Renewable Energy Engineering, Agricultural Engineering College and Research
Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India
# Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
V. Venkatramanan et al. (eds.), Sustainable Bioeconomy,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-7321-7_6
101