Alejandro Rodríguez

By María Eugenia Eugenio, David Ibarra, Raquel Martín-Sampedro, Eduardo Espinosa, Isabel Bascón and Alejandro Rodríguez

The main source of cellulosic fibre used for pulp and paper production comes from wood, while non-wood fibres are used to a lesser extent. However, a renewed interest exists in the use of non-woody raw materials due to their abundance as source of low-cost fibres and because they are sometimes the only exploitable source of fibres in certain geographical areas, mainly in developing countries. Moreover, the great variety of characteristics, fibre dimensions and chemical composition of these alternative raw materials give them a great potential to produce different types of papers. On the other hand, the pulp and paper industry is an excellent starting point for the development of lignocellulosic biorefineries, possessing the necessary technology and infrastructure as well as extensive experience in lignocellulosic biomass transformation. Since its beginnings, the pulp and paper industry has been practicing certain aspects of the biorefinery concept, generating the energy necessary for the production of cellulosic pulp from the combustion of lignocellulosic waste and black liquors, recovering the chemical reagents used and generating high value-added products (e.g. tall oil) together with cellulosic pulp. However, the evolution of the pulp and paper industry to a lignocellulosic biorefinery requires technological innovations to make bioenergy and new bioproducts available alongside traditional products.

Part of the book: Cellulose

By Remedios Montenegro, Zoilo González and Alejandro Rodríguez Pascual

Due to the abundance, low cost, and inherent properties of the lignocellulosic-based materials, as well as the diverse and scalable synthesis routes and the tunability of the chemical surface, they have been extensively utilized for water and air remediation applications. However, there is a growing trend in research aimed at identifying more sustainable alternatives for the production of these cellulose derivatives. Deep eutectic solvents (DES) have gained significant interest as potential alternatives to traditional solvents due to their versatility, cost-effectiveness, and ability to be designed with multiple components. Their potential as delignification and functionalization agents, as well as their suitability for producing cellulosic micro- and nanofibers, further enhances their appeal in the preparation of cellulose-based materials. This chapter highlights the more recent employment of DES-treated cellulose-based materials used for water and air decontamination treatments through the removal/degradation/reduction of a large range of pollutants. The present study addresses the use of diverse types of DES and their impact on the structural and chemical composition of various (ligno) cellulosic raw materials. Additionally, it explores the potential applications of the cellulose-conformed materials, with an emphasis on nanoscale materials, in remediation processes, highlighting the enhanced outcomes achieved through the utilization of DES.

Part of the book: Cellulose