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Updated: Feb 5, 2026

Pretreatment of Lignocellulosic Biomass with Low-cost Ionic Liquids
Published on: August 10, 2016
Natural deep eutectic solvents for lignocellulosic biomass pretreatment: Recent developments, challenges and novel
Alok Satlewal1, Ruchi Agrawal2, Samarthya Bhagia3
1Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA; Joint Institute for Biological Sciences, Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), TN 37831, USA; Department of Bioenergy, DBT-IOC Centre for Advanced Bioenergy Research, Research and Development Centre, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd, Faridabad, Haryana 121007, India.
Abstract:
Conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to fuels and chemicals has attracted immense research and development around the world. Lowering recalcitrance of biomass in a cost-effective manner is a challenge to commercialize biomass-based technologies. Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) are new 'green' solvents that have a high potential for biomass processing because of their low cost, low toxicity, biodegradability, easy recycling and reuse. This article discusses the properties of DESs and recent advances in their application for lignocellulosic biomass processing. The effectiveness of DESs in hydrolyzing lignin-carbohydrate complexes, removing lignin/hemicellulose from biomass as well as their effect on biomass deconstruction, crystallinity and enzymatic digestibility have been discussed. Moreover, this review presents recent findings on the compatibility of natural DESs with enzymes and microorganisms.
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