Chemical Modifications of Biomass

Biomass is a renewable resource that has several potential end uses, such as chemicals, biofuels, and cutting-edge materials. The carbon dioxide produced during burning of biomass fuels has no effect on atmospheric carbon dioxide since it comes from a biogenic source. Notwithstanding these benefits, its utilization in biofuel production is hampered by its resistant nature, as represented by its intrinsic features. Due to this, biomass must undergo pretreatment prior to use in any conversion process to ensure maximum product recovery. Physical, chemical, and physicochemical approaches pretreat lignocellulosic biomass. Chemical or physical treatments alone may improve biomass digestibility, but their combination can increase the effect. Physical pretreatment alters biomass specific surface area, particle sizes, crystallinity index, and polymerization degree whereas chemical pretreatment alters lignocellulose's recalcitrance. Acids, alkalis, ionic liquids (ILs), oxidizing agents, organosolv treatment, ozonolysis, etc. are the most popular techniques adopted for chemical pretreatment. Surface modification, coupling, alkali hydrolysis, and acid hydrolysis are the important chemical processes used to modify biomass to meet specific requirements. Genetic engineering modifies biomass's genome-level chemical composition to make it more convertible. This chapter provides a concise overview of biomass, its many potential applications, and the technology now available for modifying it enabling potential applications.