Irradiation Pretreatment of Lignocellulosic Biomass
Summary
Irradiation pretreatment employs high-energy photons or particles to disrupt the recalcitrant matrix of lignocellulosic biomass, facilitating subsequent conversion into biofuels and biochemicals. Methods include gamma irradiation, electron beam exposure and plasma-induced radicals, each inducing scission of intra- and inter-molecular hydrogen bonds, depolymerisation of cellulose and hemicellulose, and partial delignification. These structural modifications reduce crystallinity, increase specific surface area and create microfissures that enhance enzyme accessibility. Compared with conventional chemical or thermal processes, irradiation can operate without harsh reagents, minimise wastewater generation and shorten reaction times. Recent efforts assess energy balance, techno-economic feasibility and integration with downstream processes such as enzymatic saccharification, anaerobic digestion and microbial fermentation. Global applications span agricultural residues, energy crops and industrial by-products, underlining the method’s potential to advance sustainable biorefineries and reduce reliance on fossil resources.
Research from Nature Portfolio
No recent Nature Portfolio content available.
Irradiation Pretreatment of Lignocellulosic Biomass publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in irradiation pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Lignocellulosic biomass: Plant material composed of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin forming a rigid cell-wall network.
Electron beam irradiation: High-energy electron exposure that induces molecular bond scission and radical formation in solids.
Gamma irradiation: Use of γ-rays from radioactive isotopes to break chemical bonds and alter polymer structure.
Crystallinity index: A measure of the relative proportion of crystalline regions within cellulose fibres.
Enzymatic hydrolysis: Biocatalytic cleavage of polysaccharides into fermentable sugars by specific enzymes.
References
- Techno-economic analysis of electron beam irradiation pretreatment of corn straw for anaerobic digestion. Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments (2024).
- Radiation-Induced Structural Changes of Miscanthus Biomass. Applied Sciences (2020).
- Effect of non-vacuum and vacuum conditions by electron beam irradiation (EBI) wet-soaked pretreatment method on oil palm crystallinity. Materials Today Proceedings (2023).
Turn complex research questions into confident strategic decisions
When you're under pressure to set direction, justify investment, or understand your competitive position, you need more than raw data — you need trusted insights you can act on.
Benchmark your performance against global peers using robust, methodologically sound analysis.
Combine quantitative metrics with qualitative expert insight to uncover strengths, gaps and emerging opportunities.
Gain tailored, decision-ready recommendations aligned to your strategic priorities.
Talk to us to learn more about our data dashboards and bespoke strategy reports.
Grow research skills, confidence and careers with training built for every stage of the research lifecycle.
Developed with Nature Portfolio journal Editors and internationally renowned experts. Discover three ways to learn:
Self-paced, online courses in convenient bite-sized units, covering key skills across scientific writing, publishing, grant writing, data analysis, and more.
Expert trainer-led workshops with hands-on exercises and real-time feedback across core research skills, delivered via interactive group sessions.
Editor-led workshops combining core principles in writing and publishing, personalised 1:1 feedback from Nature Portfolio Editors and hands-on exercises.
Explore course catalogues and workshop agendas, enquire about the options or request institutional pricing.