Diesel production from lignocellulosic residues: trends, challenges and opportunities

Abstract

This article aims to review the various techniques used to produce diesel from lignocellulosic biomass. Data were collected using the Web of Science database to identify trends, barriers, and prospects associated with the alternative methods used. The analysis reviewed 359 papers published between 2006 and 2021, focusing on three key areas: biomass pretreatment, biomass conversion, and biorefining. Pretreatment technologies require extensive research to reduce excessive energy and reagent consumption, thereby reducing overall costs. Fast pyrolysis and lipid-producing microorganisms have been shown to be the most promising conversion routes due to their versatility in utilizing different lignocellulosic residues and producing a wide range of marketable co-products. The most widely used method used for refining is hydroprocessing coupled with catalysts, with the objective of improving bio-oil quality. Two of the main challenges are the excessive cost of the overall process and the limitations imposed by the technology. These limitations require processing optimization to achieve sustainable production and valuable co-products. The growth of lignocellulosic diesel production will depend on the integration with other biodiesel and biofuel production processes by the optimization of new processes and the generation of new bioproducts to increase efficiency and reduce costs for commercial viability.