Bioprocessing of Lignocelluloses [and Discussion]

• Published in: Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series A: Mathematical and physical sciences 1987-04, Vol.321 (1561), p.507-521
• Main Authors: Smith, James Eric, Anderson, J. G., Senior, E., Aidoo, K.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; Bioprocessing; Biotechnology; Composting; Edible fungi production; Fermentation; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fungiculture; General agronomy. Plant production; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Lignocellulosic wastes; Municipal solid waste compost; Mushrooms; Other applications; Processes; Straw; Use of agricultural and forest wastes. Biomass use, bioconversion; Windrow composting
• ISSN: 1364-503X; 0080-4614; 1471-2962; 2054-0272
• DOI: 10.1098/rsta.1987.0028

Lignocelluloses represent a major source of renewable organic matter. Development of biological processing strategies normally must consider some form of pretreatment, hydrolysis of the polymers and bioutilization or bioconversion of these molecules to useful products. Bioprocessing technologies will usually involve low-moisture solidsubstrate fermentations. Landfill techniques are now widely practised and gas abstraction methods developed. Aerobic composting methods have gained increasing importance recently and set out to achieve brevity of process with low energy consumption, safe standard products for agricultural use and hygienic operation. ‘Open’ and 'closed’ composting systems are compared and evaluated. Single-cell protein has been produced from many lignocellulosic wastes and used for ruminant animal feeding. Current practices use pure-culture or mixed-culture bioprocesses. Mushroom cultivation is the most economically successful method for bioprocessing lignocelluloses and many commercial systems operate throughout the world.