Cellulose is the organic molecule that forms the basic structure of most plants, and is the most common organic compound found on Earth.

 

Cellulose comprises about one-third of all plant matter, and more than 50% (dry weight) of wood and many agricultural residues. It is the primary component of both paper (75+%) and cotton (90%). As a general rule - if it ever grew up out of the ground, it is rich in cellulose.

 

While it is everywhere and abundant, human beings cannot digest it (although we consume a great deal as 'dietary fiber').

 

It is for all these reasons and many others that cellulose has been seen as the holy grail of advanced biofuel feedstocks.

 

 

The vast majority of cellulose is found naturally in lignocellulosic biomass, where it is tightly, chemically, bound in a mixture of lignin, hemicellulose, and cellulose.

 

Therein lies the challenge for advanced biofuels.

 

Technologies abound for the use of simple sugars and pure compounds to be fermented into alcohols, or otherwise biologically converted directly into hydrocarbons or other useful chemicals. The trick (for most) resides in either isolating the cellulose, or creating a process that can handle nature's intermingling heterogeneity.

 

Variety and Versatility>>