Structure of Lignocellulosic Biomass

Lignocellulosic materials consist mainly of three polymers: cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. These polymers are associated with each other in a hetero-matrix to different degrees and varying relative composition depending on the type, species, and even source of the biomass. The relative abundance of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin are inter alia, key factors in determining the optimum energy. Structural and compositional features of lignocellulosic biomass are presented in this chapter.