COMPARATIVE STUDY OF AGRICULTURAL LIGNOCELLULOSIC BIOMASS DELIGNIFICATION BY MICROWAVE ASSISTED CHEMICAL PRETREATMENT

Environmental concerns caused by fossil fuels coupled with growing energy
demands have pushed nations to seek other forms of energy/renewable energy.
Biofuels production from plant waste seems to be a good option, due to its
usabilityin transportation sector, renewable nature andworldwide availability.
Huge quantities of lignocellulosic agricultural wastes are generated in the form
of rice husk, palm fiber empty fruit bunch, and coconut husk. They have good
potential to be used as alternate energy. Their extraordinary lignin portion, has,
posedstrainontheir use. Thisworkexplored thepossibility of usingmicrowave
frequency based energies combined with alkaline and acidic treatments for
delignification of these agricultural biomass waste to enhance their energy
potential.