Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “lignocellulosic”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 37 records · Page 2
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2024

Cycloalkane-rich sustainable aviation fuel production via hydrotreating lignocellulosic biomass-derived catalytic fast pyrolysis oils

Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) produced from lignocellulosic biomass is emerging as an ideal alternative to conventional jet fuel for aviation sector decarbonization. Catalytic fast pyrolysis (CFP) can convert lignocellulosic biomass into relatively stable bio-oil that can be selectively transformed to various transportation fuels through hydroprocessing under conditions of different severities. In this contribution, two CFP oils produced from pine-based feedstocks over different types of catalysts (i.e., ZSM-5 and Pt/TiO 2 catalysts) were hydrotreated at 125 bar in a non-isothermal process with a maximum temperature of 385 °C over a sulfided NiMo/Al 2 O 3 catalyst to produce SAF with high cycloalkane concentrations of 89–92 wt%. Cycloalkanes are an important component of jet fuel with advantageous fuel properties, such as high energy density, low sooting, and potential for replacing aromatic hydrocarbons to provide good seal swelling properties. The hydrotreating process successfully converted 91–92% of the biogenic carbon in the CFP oil intermediates to liquid-phase hydrotreated products. Through distillation, 39–40 wt% of the hydrotreated oils were collected in the jet-fuel range as SAF fractions. The rest of the hydrotreated product could be valorized as fuels (e.g., diesel) or chemicals. The SAF fractions with oxygen contents below the detection limit (<0.01 wt%) met ASTM D7566 finished fuel blend and D4054 Tier 1 specifications with respect to density, lower heating value (LHV), volatility, flash point, and freeze point. These results indicate hydrotreating lignocellulosic biomass-derived CFP oil as a promising pathway to produce high-quality SAF rich in cycloalkanes. Continued research is required to increase the SAF yield by process improvements, such as increased CFP oil yields, and an enhanced production of SAF-range molecules via e.g., cracking of high-molecular weight compounds either during CFP or hydrotreating, as well as evaluation of a broader range of jet fuel properties and performance requirements.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Physiological and metabolic responses of Zymomonas mobilis to lignocellulosic hydrolysate

Zymomonas mobilis is a promising biocatalyst for the sustainable conversion of lignocellulosic sugars into biofuels and bioproducts, yet its response to lignocellulosic hydrolysates remains poorly understood. Here, we investigate the physiological response of Z. mobilis to ammonia fiber expansion (AFEX)-pretreated switchgrass hydrolysate using a systems-level approach integrating LC–MS/MS-based lipidomics and shotgun proteomics. Growth on hydrolysate induced substantial shifts in fatty acid and membrane phospholipid composition, alongside broad proteomic remodeling. Notably, Z. mobilis exhibited a stress response characterized by the upregulation of heat shock proteins and efflux transporters and the downregulation of cell motility proteins. Unexpectedly, hydrolysate exposure also led to a robust upregulation of the Entner–Doudoroff pathway, the ethanol fermentation pathway, and other central carbon metabolism enzymes, indicating a substantial cellular investment potentially driven by additional nutrient availability in hydrolysate. These findings provide new insights into the metabolic adaptations of Z. mobilis to lignocellulosic hydrolysates, informing strategies to enhance its biofuel production capabilities.

Zymomonas mobilis↗
DOE OSTI2022

Utilization of lignocellulosic biofuel conversion residue by diverse microorganisms

Lignocellulosic conversion residue (LCR) is the material remaining after deconstructed lignocellulosic biomass is subjected to microbial fermentation and treated to remove the biofuel. Technoeconomic analyses of biofuel refineries have shown that further microbial processing of this LCR into other bioproducts may help offset the costs of biofuel generation. Identifying organisms able to metabolize LCR is an important first step for harnessing the full chemical and economic potential of this material. In this study, we investigated the aerobic LCR utilization capabilities of 71 Streptomyces and 163 yeast species that could be engineered to produce valuable bioproducts. The LCR utilization by these individual microbes was compared to that of an aerobic mixed microbial consortium derived from a wastewater treatment plant as representative of a consortium with the highest potential for degrading the LCR components and a source of genetic material for future engineering efforts. We analyzed several batches of a model LCR by chemical oxygen demand (COD) and chromatography-based assays and determined that the major components of LCR were oligomeric and monomeric sugars and other organic compounds. Many of the Streptomyces and yeast species tested were able to grow in LCR, with some individual microbes capable of utilizing over 40% of the soluble COD. For comparison, the maximum total soluble COD utilized by the mixed microbial consortium was about 70%. This represents an upper limit on how much of the LCR could be valorized by engineered Streptomyces or yeasts into bioproducts. To investigate the utilization of specific components in LCR and have a defined media for future experiments, we developed a synthetic conversion residue (SynCR) to mimic our model LCR and used it to show lignocellulose-derived inhibitors (LDIs) had little effect on the ability of the Streptomyces species to metabolize SynCR. We found that LCR is rich in carbon sources for microbial utilization and has vitamins, minerals, amino acids and other trace metabolites necessary to support growth. Testing diverse collections of Streptomyces and yeast species confirmed that these microorganisms were capable of growth on LCR and revealed a phylogenetic correlation between those able to best utilize LCR. Identification and quantification of the components of LCR enabled us to develop a synthetic LCR (SynCR) that will be a useful tool for examining how individual components of LCR contribute to microbial growth and as a substrate for future engineering efforts to use these microorganisms to generate valuable bioproducts.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Using Incremental Changes to Convert Lignocellulosic Feedstocks to Cellulosic Ethanol

One billion tons of biomass feedstocks have been identified for the production of renewable biofuels and biochemicals. This is one of the key carbon feedstocks to supply energy to the transportation sector for light duty, heavy duty and aviation fuels. Utilization of lignocellulosic feedstocks supports an improved energy security by reducing demand of petroleum imports, agricultural development, job creation, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. To date, however, operational challenges have stymied the industrial production of large volumes of lignocellulosic-based fuels and chemicals. As a result, significant research investment has been led by the United States Department of Energy to understand and improve operational reliability at pioneer cellulosic biorefineries. In this perspective article lignocellulosic conversion technologies are described that have been adopted from the starch ethanol process. The developed process culminated in successful demonstration of 1,000-h integrated runs using several feedstocks, including switchgrass, energy sorghum, and two types of corn kernel fiber. This report highlights process development that solved several of the issues that plagued—and continue to plague—many in the cellulosic sugars space such as biomass feeding into equipment, high ash content, diversified co-product value, and others.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Pretreatment of lignocellulosic feedstocks for cellulose nanofibril production

Cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) have attracted a great deal of research interest in recent years attributable to the low cost and abundance of lignocellulosic biomass from which they can be extracted. These materials have potential applications in a wide array of areas because of their unique properties such as ultra-high aspect ratios and specific strengths. However, the high energy required to extract CNFs from biomass through fibrillation often makes them prohibitively expensive or negates their inherent sustainability. As such, a variety of biomass treatments prior to fibrillation have been investigated by researchers to reduce the energy requirements of CNF extraction, improve the efficacy of biomass fibrillation and subsequent processes, and/or impart functionality in resulting nanofibrils. In this work, both widely used and emerging mechanical, chemical, and enzymatic pretreatments used prior to fibrillation of lignocellulosic biomass for CNF extraction are reviewed. Attention is given to the effect of these various pretreatments on the properties of the resulting CNFs. Finally, the energy consumption in fibrillation processes with and without the use of pretreatments is compared, and future perspectives on challenges and opportunities in lignocellulosic feedstock pretreatments are discussed.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2025

A green degumming approach for lignocellulosic kenaf bast using ethanolamine deep eutectic solvent

Traditional chemical degumming methods for lignocellulosic bast fibers pose substantial challenges, especially when dealing with kenaf bast, which has a high lignin content. Here, these challenges include severe pollution and low efficiency, etc. Therefore, this study developed a novel, green, and efficient degumming approach for lignocellulosic kenaf bast, leveraging choline chloride-ethanolamine (ChCl-ETA) alkaline deep eutectic solvent (DES). The efficacy of the ChCl-ETA DES based degumming method was validated through comprehensive chemical composition analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TG), and two-dimensional (2D) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Subsequently, the optimal degumming conditions, with a choline chloride to ethanolamine ratio of 1:6 and a degumming temperature of 120 °C, were determined based on the results of the residual gum content. Significantly, the recycled ChCl-ETA DES mixtures could maintain a degumming capacity (revealed by the residual gum content of degummed fibers) comparable to that of the conventional double-boiling method for at least five degumming cycles without purification. Given its low-pollution process and high efficiency, this developed method holds great potential for industrial-scale applications of lignocellulosic bast fibers.

Choline chloride↗
DOE OSTI2026

Phase-Selective Fractionation of Lignocellulosic Biomass Using a Lignin-Based Hydrophobic Deep Eutectic Solvent Biphasic System

Lignocellulose fractionation is a critical step in biomass valorization. Herein, we report a hydrophobic deep eutectic solvent (HDES)-mediated biphasic fractionation strategy that enables the simultaneous and selective separation of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin in a single process. Lignin-derived HDESs composed of thymol and 2,6-dimethoxyphenol (syringol) were combined with an acidic aqueous phase to create a water-HDES biphasic system, in which lignin was preferentially extracted into the HDES phase, hemicellulose-derived sugars were selectively solubilized in the aqueous phase, and cellulose was retained in the solid residue. Using wheat straw and poplar wood as representative herbaceous and woody biomass feedstocks, the HDES-acid system exhibited strong synergistic effects, achieving delignification up to 69.8% and xylan removal up to 93.6%. Structural characterization confirmed effective disruption of the lignocellulosic matrix and increased cellulose accessibility, resulting in markedly enhanced enzymatic saccharification, with glucose yields up to 96.2% for wheat straw. This work demonstrates a sustainable and efficient HDES-based biphasic fractionation platform that enables phase-selective separation of major lignocellulosic components and provides a foundation for further development of closed-loop biorefinery processes.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Chelator-mediated Fenton post-treatment enhances methane yield from lignocellulosic residues via microbial community modulation

Advancing biomethane production from anaerobic digestion (AD) is essential for building a more reliable and resilient bioenergy system. However, incomplete conversion of lignocellulose-rich agricultural waste remains a key limitation, often leaving energy-dense residues in the digestate by-product. In this study, we introduce a novel application of chelator-mediated Fenton (CMF) post-treatment to recover untapped biomethane potential from these recalcitrant residues, representing a significant departure from conventional pre-treatment strategies. By systematically varying pH, iron-chelator concentration, and hydrogen peroxide dosage, we identified reaction conditions (pH 6–8, 5 mM Fe 2+ -dihydroxybenzene, 3–4 wt.% H 2 O 2 ) that enhanced lignocellulose deconstruction and increased dissolved organic carbon (DOC) availability for methanogenesis. CMF post-treatment led to up to a tenfold increase in biomethane potential compared to untreated controls. Microbial community analysis revealed enrichment of cellulolytic species, suggesting enhanced hydrolytic activity as a driver of improved conversion. Application of the CMF post-treatment method to isolated poplar lignin further demonstrated its versatility for diverse lignocellulosic substrates. These findings position CMF post-treatment as a promising strategy to enhance AD efficiency and valorize digestate.

Martinez, Daniella Victoria [Sandia National Labor↗
NASA NTRS1990

The conversion of lignocellulosics to fermentable sugars: A survey of current research and application to CELSS

An overview of the options for converting lignocellulosics into fermentable sugars as applied to the Closed Ecological Life Support System (CELSS) is given. A requirement for pretreatment is shown as well as the many available options. At present, physical/chemical methods are the simplest and best characterized options, but enzymatic processes will likely be the method of choice in the future. The use of pentose sugars by microorganisms to produce edibles at levels comparable to conventional plants is shown. The possible use of mycelial food production on pretreated but not hydrolyzed lignocelluloscis is also presented. Simple tradeoff analysis among some of the many possible biological pathways to regeneration of waste lignocellulosics was undertaken. Comparisons with complete oxidation processes were made. It is suggested that the NASA Life Sciences CELSS program maintain relationships with other government agencies involved in lignocellulosic conversions and use their expertise when the actual need for such conversion technology arises rather than develop this expertise within NASA.

Petersen, Gene R.↗
NASA NTRS1990

The conversion of lignocellulosics to fermentable sugars - A survey of current research and applications to CELSS

This report provides an overview options for converting lignocellulosics into fermentable sugars in CELSS. A requirement for pretreatment is shown. Physical-chemical and enzymatic hydrolysis processes for producing fermentable sugars are discussed. At present physical-chemical methods are the simplest and best characterized options, but enzymatic processes will be the likely method of choice in the future. The use of pentose sugars by microorganisms to produce edibles is possible. The use of mycelial food production on pretreated but not hydrolyzed lignocellulosics is also possible. Simple trade-off analyses to regenerate waste lignocellulosics for two pathways are made, one of which is compared to complete oxidation.

Petersen, Gene R.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Rewiring metabolism of Clostridium thermocellum for consolidated bioprocessing of lignocellulosic biomass poplar to produce short-chain esters

Consolidated bioprocessing (CBP) of lignocellulosic biomass uses cellulolytic microorganisms to enable enzyme production, saccharification, and fermentation to produce biofuels, biochemicals, and biomaterials in a single step. However, understanding and redirecting metabolisms of these microorganisms compatible with CBP are limited. Here, a cellulolytic thermophile Clostridium thermocellum was engineered and demonstrated to be compatible with CBP integrated with a Co-solvent Enhanced Lignocellulosic Fractionation (CELF) pretreatment for conversion of hardwood poplar into short-chain esters with industrial use as solvents, flavors, fragrances, and biofuels. The recombinant C. thermocellum engineered with deletion of carbohydrate esterases and stable overexpression of alcohol acetyltransferases improved ester production without compromised deacetylation activities. These esterases were discovered to exhibit promiscuous thioesterase activities and their deletion enhanced ester production by rerouting the electron and carbon metabolism. Ester production was further improved up to 80-fold and ester composition could be modulated by deleting lactate biosynthesis and using poplar with different pretreatment severity.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

Development of a universal method for high yield of furfural and hydrogen from raw lignocellulosic biomass

In order to develop a universal method for the co-production of furfural and hydrogen from raw lignocellulosic biomass, three types of substrates (maple wood, wheat straw, and tall fescue) were investigated, integrating chemical and electrochemical technologies. The results show both furfural and pure hydrogen were produced from all the biomass substrates, and the substrate type, composition, concentration, and size all affected furfural and hydrogen production. The highest furfural production of 154 mg g -1 substrate was achieved from wheat straw. The highest conversion rate of 67% for the waste furfural residue was realized, and 335 ml pure hydrogen per gram of furfural residue with a Faradaic efficiency of 99.3% was obtained with a new electrolytic cell. A reaction mechanism for hydrogen evolution from furfural residue and a rule for co-production of furfural and hydrogen from raw biomass were proposed. The facts show that a promising universal method for the co-production of furfural and hydrogen from lignocellulosic biomass has been developed.

08 HYDROGEN↗
DOE OSTI2025

Structure-guided utilization of lignocellulose for catalysis, energy, and biomaterials

As a complex composite of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, plant lignocellulose has long served as a major resource for biomass conversion, materials engineering, and bio-based product development. High-resolution structural insights enabled by solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (ssNMR) now allow the mapping of polymer interfaces, identification of functional group accessibility, and tracking of molecular organization during processing, all of which are critical factors for optimizing catalytic strategies. These insights could drive transformative progress in lignocellulose-based applications, including selective depolymerization, improved pretreatment design, and efficient upcycling of lignin into resins, plastics, and biomedical materials. In industry-relevant contexts, such as biofuel generation and renewable material manufacturing, understanding the hydration dynamics, cross-linking patterns, and structural heterogeneity is also essential. The ability to visualize these features in native biomass presents a unique opportunity to develop new strategies for sustainability and performance. As the structural toolbox continues to expand, it is becoming a central enabler for innovations in renewable energy, green chemistry, and advanced bioproducts.

bioproduct↗
DOE OSTI2025

Deep Eutectic Solvents for Efficient Fractionation of Lignocellulose to Produce Uncondensed Lignin and High-Quality Cellulose

Simultaneously inhibiting lignin condensation and cellulose degradation remains a major challenge for achieving holistic valorization of lignocellulose. Here, we developed a deep eutectic solvent (DES), composed of l-cysteine (Cys) and lactic acid (LA), to fractionate both uncondensed lignin and high-quality cellulose from eucalyptus wood by leveraging the unique properties of Cys, i.e., highly nucleophilic groups (–SH) and hydrogen bond acceptor/donor groups (–NH 2 and –COOH). The nucleophilic –SH in Cys effectively quenches the benzylic carbocations (C α + ions, formed at the benzylic sites of lignin) that lead to lignin condensation. This enables the high yield of uncondensed lignin (81%) with high retention of β–O–4 bonds (up to 90%). The separated uncondensed lignin is further depolymerized to prepare monophenols in a satisfactory 43% yield, equivalent to 73% of the theoretical yield. Moreover, the –NH 2 and –COOH groups in Cys form extensive hydrogen bonds with the hydroxyl groups in cellulose, thus decreasing the interaction energy of DES on cellulose. As a result, the cellulose achieves an astonishing 99% retention and maintains a high degree of polymerization of 1160. The obtained high-quality cellulose is further conversed into cellulose nanofibers for strong and transparent films. Furthermore, this study provides new insights into the efficient separation of uncondensed lignin and high-quality cellulose from lignocellulose by a novel DES system.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2026

Evaluating the Transport Mechanism for Lignocellulosic Inhibitors in Zymomonas mobilis

The conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to biofuels and bioproducts is limited by small inhibitory molecules generated during the pretreatment process. The diverse compounds within the cell wall hydrolysate including aldehydes, carboxylic acids, phenolics, and alcohols inhibit microbial growth by disrupting microbial membranes. Although Zymomonas mobilis combines high ethanol productivity with hopanoid-rich membranes that confer solvent tolerance, hydrolysate compounds still inhibit microbial growth. One proposed mitigation strategy is to pump these molecules out through active transport processes, reducing direct toxicity. However, if passive permeation rates are high, active transport would create a futile cycle where the exported molecules diffuse back in, creating a net drag on fitness. To investigate this hypothesis, we measure the passive permeation for thirty-three lignocellulose derived compounds using atomistic molecular dynamics simulations with enhanced sampling. Permeability coefficients determined spanned more than eight orders of magnitude driven largely by the balance between hydrophobicity and polarity. Hydrophobic inhibitors such as aromatic acids, aldehydes, and short chain alcohols readily partitioned into the membrane and showed high permeability consistent with rapid passive influx and strong toxicity. Most polar molecules have lower but still appreciable permeation rates, with only the most polar sugars having low permeabilities. By integrating these predictions together with hydrolysate composition information, we find that most of these molecules are so permeable that futile cycles where passive permeation overwhelms efflux is highly likely. These findings provide a predictive framework for strain engineering, highlighting that, for highly permeable inhibitors, reducing extracellular inhibitor concentrations through hydrolysate detoxification, pretreatment optimization, or dilution may be necessary to mitigate futile cycling and improve microbial productivity in industrial biorefineries.

Zymomonas mobilis↗
DOE OSTI2024

Single-molecule imaging of lignocellulose deconstruction by SCATTIRSTORM microscopy

The goal of this project is to build a multimodal optical microscope to measure the binding, processive degradation, and pausing behaviors of cellulases as they interact with and degrade both synthetic and naturally occurring lignocellulosic walls. To achieve this, we will use high spatio-temporal single-molecule imaging to track cellulases, while visualizing specific molecular components of cellulose, lignin and hemicellulose, that make up their lignocellulose substrate. The microscope will combine Interferometric Scattering (iSCAT), which provides unprecedented spatiotemporal resolution; Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence (TIRF), which provides single-molecule resolution of multiple fluorophore-labeled molecules; and Stochastic Reconstruction (STORM), which allows for three-dimensional super-resolution imaging of intact plant cell walls during degradation. Initial studies will investigate cellulase dynamics on in vitro-assembled cell wall analogs, and later work will progress to using native plant cell walls.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Biocompatible organosolv fractionation via a novel alkaline lignin-first strategy towards lignocellulose valorization

Simultaneous valorization of both carbohydrate and lignin fractions in lignocellulose remains a great challenge. Herein, a novel lignin-first strategy using triethylene glycol (TEG) under alkaline conditions for effective biomass fractionation producing highly digestible carbohydrates and reactive lignin was developed. Delignification was over 80% and fermentable sugar yields were close to 90% after pretreatment at 90°C. The biocompatibility of TEG allowed direct enzymatic hydrolysis of the solid residue without washing, thus minimizing wastewater generation. Furthermore, the obtained lignin (TEGL) had an uncondensed structure with well-preserved β-O-4 linkage, leading to near-equal aromatic monomer yields compared to cellulolytic enzyme lignin after catalytic-free pyrolysis, demonstrating high valorization potential. Finally, the proposed TEG solvent system is promising for a green and sustainable biorefinery process to achieve the complete utilization of lignocellulose.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2022

Beneficial effect of surfactant in adsorption/desorption of lignocellulose-degrading enzymes on/from lignin with different structure

Nonionic surfactant Tween 80 is effective in alleviating the adsorption of lignocellulose-degrading enzymes onto lignin. However, the impacts of lignin structural characteristics on this mitigation effect of Tween 80 were still not clear. Herein, effects of Tween 80 on cellulase and xylanase adsorption on different enzymatic residual lignins (ERLs) and poplar samples were investigated. Besides, effects of Tween 80 on desorption of the two enzyme preparations from different ERLs and poplar samples were also evaluated. By adding Tween 80, the inhibition of ERLs to cellulase hydrolysis was offset and the positive role of Tween 80 in Avicel hydrolysis with presence of ERLs was more effective. Binding strength of cellulase with ERLs was alleviated from 236.0 – 410.9 to 43.9 – 116.6 mL/g after adding 0.5 mg/mL Tween 80. When ERLs was more hydrophobic and had more condensed phenolic OH, the alleviation effect of Tween 80 on cellulase adsorption on ERLs was intensified but its positive effect on enhancing cellulase desorption was weakened. Tween 80 was effective in increasing xylanase activity and preventing xylanase deactivation. Further, with the increase of lignin content and phenolic OH in pretreated poplar, the effect of Tween 80 in alleviating xylanase adsorption on poplar samples was intensified but the effect in enhancing xylanase desorption from poplar samples was weakened. The results provided distinct findings to understand the interaction between Tween 80 and cellulase/xylanase in enzymatic saccharification of lignocelluloses.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗