Skip to Main Content
Skip Nav Destination

Since the beginning of the 21st century, we have observed a dramatic increase in the price of crude oil, passing the $100/barrel barrier to reach a historical maximum of $134.44/barrel in July of 2008. With this in mind, fuels made using lignocellulosic biomass are poised to become an important source of renewable energy. Liquid biofuels are made by pretreating lignocellulosic biomass, followed by enzymatic hydrolysis and the subsequent fermentation of the sugars to alcohols or other fuels. Ammonia Fiber Expansion (AFEX) is considered one of the leading alkaline pretreatment processes. This technology incorporates many innovative features, including operation at relatively low temperatures and short residence times, showing extremely good results for enzymatic hydrolysis yields from grasses, and the ability to conduct fermentation without additional detoxification or nutrient supplementation. However, little is known about the important chemical reactions that occur during AFEX pretreatment and the relationship between structural changes in the biomass and its degradability. These issues will be discussed in this review.

You do not currently have access to this chapter, but see below options to check access via your institution or sign in to purchase.
Don't already have an account? Register
Close Modal

or Create an Account

Close Modal
Close Modal