Nama : Tiara Cahya Putri

NPM : 1655041001

Mata Kuliah : Konversi Biomassa

Questions:

1. Described about lignocellulose biomass

2. How to differentiate the three component of lignocellulosic biomass (cellulose,
hemicellulose and lignin) based on its molecular structure, and characteristic

Answers:
1. Lignocellulose biomass refers to plant dry matter (biomass), that is consists of
Hemicellulose, Cellulose and Lignin, and the most abundant and renewable material in
the world for the production of biofuels. Using lignocellulosic biomass derived biofuels
could reduce reliance on fossil fuels and contribute to climate change mitigation.
2. Cellulose

Cellulose is a long chain polysaccharide formed by Dglucose units, linked by 1,4

glycosidic bonds: its structure has crystalline parts and amorphous ones. These are
crystalline bundles of up to 2000 cellulose molecules known as microfibrils . These can
range in diameter from 10-30 nm.

-Cellulose
Cellulose that is insoluble in 18% NaOH
DP>200
-Cellulose
Material that precipitates after 18% NaoH neutralized
DP 10-200
-Cellulose
 Remaining material, DP<10

CELLULOSE PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

Crystalline cellulose does not dissolve in most solvents
Molecular length
Inter molecular bonding

Amorphous regions have large number of hydrogen bonding sites available

Cellulose can absorb large amounts of water
Fully hydrated cellulose very flexible
Dry cellulose inflexible and brittle

Swelling of cellulose
8.5 - 12% NaOH
Others

Hemicellulose

Hemicellulose is a complex, branched and heterogeneous polymeric network, based on

pentoses such as xylose and arabinose, hexoses such as glucose, mannose and
galactose, and sugar acids. It has a lower molecular weight than cellulose and its role is
to connect lignin and cellulose fibers.

Branched little uncolored sugar polymers (~ 50 to 300 sugar units)

Composition varies between wood species
5 carbon sugars: xylose, arabinose
6 carbon sugars: mannose, galactose, glucose
Uronic Acids: galacturonic acid, glucuronic acid
Acetyl and methoxyl groups (acetic acid & methanol)
Hemicelluloses are also sugar polymers but different from cellulose because they are:

Made up glucose and other sugars

Contain some molecules other than sugars
Branched little polymers
The beads have Ys in them
Much smaller than cellulose as they are made up of between 50-300 sugars
There are lots of varieties of hemicelluloses
Not very resistant to chemical attack many easily break down to simple sugars

Lignin

Lignin is an amorphous polymer made by different phenolic compounds and is the main
component of cell wall. Lignin holds together cellulose and hemicelluloses fibers and
gives support, resistance and impermeability to the plants.

Characteristics of lignin :

Three dimensional polymer

No sugars in it
Natures glue very similar to phenolic resin used in plywood. Holds cellulose
and hemicelluloses together
Second most plentiful natural material
Must be removed or weakened to separate fibers; turn wood to pulp
Dark in nature especially after reacting with alkali must be de-colored or
removed to bleach pulp