Steam explosion as sustainable biomass pretreatment technique for biofuel production: Characteristics and challenges

Anh Tuan Hoang; Xuan Phuong Nguyen; Xuan Quang Duong; Ümit Ağbulut; Christophe Len; Phuoc Quy Phong Nguyen; Mohamed Kchaou; Wei-Hsin Chen

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2023.129398

Steam explosion as sustainable biomass pretreatment technique for biofuel production: Characteristics and challenges

Bioresour Technol. 2023 Oct:385:129398. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2023.129398. Epub 2023 Jun 28.

Authors

Anh Tuan Hoang¹, Xuan Phuong Nguyen², Xuan Quang Duong³, Ümit Ağbulut⁴, Christophe Len⁵, Phuoc Quy Phong Nguyen², Mohamed Kchaou⁶, Wei-Hsin Chen⁷

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Engineering, HUTECH University, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam.
² PATET Research Group, Ho Chi Minh City University of Transport, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam.
³ Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Vietnam Maritime University, Haiphong, Viet Nam.
⁴ Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Duzce University, 81620, Düzce, Türkiye.
⁵ PSL Research University, Chimie ParisTech, CNRS, Paris Cedex 05, France.
⁶ Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Bisha, P.O. Box 1, Bisha, Saudi Arabia.
⁷ Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan; Research Center for Smart Sustainable Circular Economy, Tunghai University, Taichung 407, Taiwan; Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Chin-Yi University of Technology, Taichung 411, Taiwan. Electronic address: weihsinchen@gmail.com.

PMID: 37385558
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2023.129398

Abstract

The biorefining process of lignocellulosic biomass has recently emerged as one of the most profitable biofuel production options. However, pretreatment is required to improve the recalcitrant lignocellulose's enzymatic conversion efficiency. Among biomass pretreatment methods, the steam explosion is an eco-friendly, inexpensive, and effective approach to pretreating biomass, significantly promoting biofuel production efficiency and yield. This review paper critically presents the steam explosion's reaction mechanism and technological characteristics for lignocellulosic biomass pretreatment. Indeed, the principles of steam explosion technology for lignocellulosic biomass pretreatment were scrutinized. Moreover, the impacts of process factors on pretreatment efficiency and sugar recovery for the following biofuel production were also discussed in detail. Finally, the limitations and prospects of steam explosion pretreatment were mentioned. Generally, steam explosion technology applications could bring great potential in pretreating biomass, although deeper studies are needed to deploy this method on industrial scales.

Keywords: Biofuel production; Biomass pretreatment; Reaction mechanism; Steam explosion; Technological characteristics.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Biofuels
Biomass
Hydrolysis
Lignin*
Steam*

Substances

Lignin
Steam
Biofuels