Alternative initiatives for non‐wood chemical pulping and integration with the biorefinery concept: A review

Abstract Conventional pulping processes, such as soda, soda‐Antraquinone (AQ), and kraft, are currently used for non‐wood pulping. The main challenges of non‐wood pulping in conventional pulping processes are (1) large amounts of silica cause silica‐related operational difficulties in the process; (2) large amounts of fines/parenchyma cells decrease the drainage; and (3) the bulky nature of raw materials increases the collection/transportation cost, hampering large‐scale commercial operations. Alternative pulping processes are therefore being developed. This paper reviews the current status of alternative non‐wood pulping processes and their integration with the biorefinery concept. Several promising methods have been investigated at the laboratory or pilot scale. Organic acid and potassium hydroxide pulping processes are attractive alternatives for non‐wood pulping. Dissolved lignin and hemicelluloses in spent liquor can lead to the production of valuable co‐products, fitting well with the integrated biorefinery concept. Non‐wood biomass can be important raw material for pulping in forest‐deficient countries. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd