Valorization of agricultural lignocellulosic plant byproducts following biorefinery approach toward circular bioeconomy

During the last decade, an increased attention has emerged on circular economy focused to improve simultaneously the environment, economy, and society for a sustainable development. In this context, biorefinery systems act as tactical mechanisms for the transition of a circular bioeconomy, since these systems can produce multiple high-value products, among biofuels, including food and feed products, biochemicals, and biomaterials, coming from diverse biomasses through the integration of useful conversion technologies. Agricultural activities are responsible for the overaccumulation and overproduction of lignocellulosic waste (e.g., bagasse, branch, leaves, wheat stover, fruit and vegetable seeds and peels). Such waste biomasses are abundant and could be considered as versatile natural resources for the obtention of this kind of products with high industrial demand. Thus, exploiting these lignocellulosic materials for the obtention of bioenergy and biochemicals, among other products, under biorefinery approach is a key objective for the transition of a well-succeeded circular bioeconomy. In this chapter, we focus on the principal constituents such as cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin present in the lignocellulosic biomasses. Each component has its unique characteristics, and their valorization depends on effective biomass treatment. This chapter presents traditional and novel treatment methods for agricultural lignocellulosic biomass valorization and their potential applications.