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DOE OSTI · 2476020

Center for Lignocellulose Structure and Formation (CLSF)

Cosgrove, Daniel J.
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Abstract

Lignocellulose is the carbon- and energy-rich material synthesized by plants when they make secondary cell walls, e.g. in woody tissues. Plants annually convert gigatons of atmospheric CO 2 into these complex and useful biomaterials that comprise over half of all biological carbon on Earth. This biological conversion helps to reduce atmospheric CO 2 that contributes to climate change while generating renewable plant cell walls that are used commercially on a massive scale in the paper, timber and textile industries. Recent technical developments open new possibilities for use of modified wood and cellulose fibers as large-scale alternatives to steel, plastics, and other nonrenewable materials with high carbon footprints and energy inputs, as well as for generation of biofuels and bio-hydrogen. Despite the utility of plant-based biomaterials, many physical and biological aspects of cell wall structure and formation remain obscure, and this limits the current scope for engineering these renewable resources for greater utility.

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09 BIOMASS FUELS60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCESBioenergyBiofuelsCelluloseLignocellulosePlant Cell Walls

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Cosgrove, Daniel J.. 2024-11-05. Center for Lignocellulose Structure and Formation (CLSF). https://doi.org/10.2172/2476020

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