Room: Poster Area
Date: Thursday, 21 May 2026
Time: 11:30 - 12:45 CEST
Session code 3CV.4
Processes and concepts
Advancing the Lignocellulosic Value Chain within the PERCIVAL Project: Integrated Biorefinery Approaches for Lactic Acid and Biochar Production
Short Introductive summary
The lignocellulosic value chain within the PERCIVAL project focuses on transforming agro-industrial residues into high-value bioproducts through a sustainable circular bioeconomy approach. The process integrates the conversion of the carbohydrate fraction of lignocellulosic biomass into lactic acid and the valorization of the lignin-rich residue into biochar. Steam explosion pretreatment was optimized for hemicellulose solubilization, achieving high xylose recovery from xylan-rich fractions. Enzymatic hydrolysis with commercial enzyme blends (CTec3 HS) achieved up to 75% cellulose recovery and 86% xylan conversion, generating fermentable hydrolysates. Fermentation by Lactobacillus brevis under optimized microaerophilic conditions led to lactic acid titers up to 60 g/L, with limited xylose uptake still under investigation. The lignin-rich residues were thermochemically converted into biochar via rotary kiln pyrolysis, yielding 30% char with high fixed carbon and low ash content. This integrated biorefinery model demonstrates efficient biomass valorization and minimal waste generation, contributing to sustainable, carbon-neutral bioproduct pathways.
Presenter
Federico LIUZZI
ENEA Trisaia Research Centre, Biorefineries and Green Chemistry Dpt., ITALY
Presenter's biography
Dr. Federico Liuzzi is a researcher at ENEA Trisaia research center since 2011 and has broad experience in the biomass pretreatment, in the study of enzymatic processes, and in this context, in the development of innovative bioreactors for saccharification purposes.
Biographies and Short introductive summaries are supplied directly by presenters and are published here unedited
Co-authors:
M. Colacicco, University of Bari, ITALY
N. Di Fidio, University of Bari, ITALY
C. Freda, ENEA Trisaia Research Centre, Rotondella, ITALY
I. Pisano, University of Bari, ITALY
I. De Bari, ENEA Trisaia Research Centre, Rotondella, ITALY
Session reference: 3CV.4.22