UW-Madison researchers have developed an improved pretreatment process for robust conversion of biomass. This process, known as Sulfite Pretreatment to Overcome Recalcitrance of Lignocellulose (SPORL), reduces the energy consumption needed for size-reduction processes, required before enzymatic hydrolysis, by more than tenfold.
Follow this link to learn more: http://www.warf.org/technologies.jsp?ipnumber=P08193US

This mini-review provides an overview of major wood biopolymers, their structure, and recent developments in their utilization to develop biofuels. Advances in genetic modifications to overcome the recalcitrance of woody biomass for biofuels are discussed and point to a promising future.
Follow this link to learn more: http://www.springerlink.com/content/q3405j0452244620/

This review presents a comprehensive discussion of the key technical issues in woody biomass pretreatment: barriers to efficient cellulose saccharification, pretreatment energy consumption, in particular energy consumed for wood-size reduction, and criteria to evaluate the performance of a pretreatment.
Follow this link to learn more: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960852409015119

This review will discuss the most important pretreatment methods available today and will highlight key criteria for the development of a future ideal pretreatment.
Follow this link to learn more: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0958166909000597

Testing a protocol that uses phosphoric acid to hydrolyze cellulose and hemi-cellulose for sugar extraction
Follow this link to learn more: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0957582007714477

A review on pretreatment: its use, cost, and impact on downstream operations
Follow this link to learn more: http://www.cert.ucr.edu/research/ses/wymanpublications/Pretreatment%20The%20Key%20to%20Unlocking%20Low%20Cost.pdf

This paper deals with a detailed analysis of costs, energy input, and carbon emissions for biomass collection and pre-processing enterprises in Canada
Follow this link to learn more: http://www.biocap.ca/rif/report/Sokhansanj_S.pdf

Genomics strategies provide clues for unraveling cellulosic biomass.
Follow this link to learn more: http://pubs.acs.org/isubscribe/journals/cen/86/i49/html/8649cover.html

This review explains biomass pretreatment: why it’s important, the various technologies, and the science behind it all.
Follow this link to learn more: http://ijabe.org/index.php/ijabe/article/viewFile/168/83