Application of Infrared Spectroscopy in the Characterization of Lignocellulosic Biomasses Utilized in Wastewater Treatment

Abstract

Global economies are confronting major energy challenges. Mitigating the energy depletion crisis and finding alternative and unconventional energy sources have been subjects for many investigations. Plant-sourced biomasses have started to attract global attention as a renewable energy source. Maximizing the performance of the biomass feedstock in different applications requires the availability of reliable and cost-effective techniques for characterization of the biomass. Comprehending the structure of lignocellulosic biomass is a very important way to assess the feasibility of bond formation and functionalization, structural architecture, and hence sculpting of the corresponding structure−property liaison. Over the past decades, non-invasive techniques have brought many pros that make them a valuable tool in depicting the structure of lignocellulosic materials. The current chapter will be focused on the applications of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy especially in the mid-infrared region in the compositional and structural analysis of lignocellulosic biomasses. The chapter will provide a display of examples from the literature for the application of FTIR spectroscopy in finding the composition of various biomasses obtained from different parts of plants and applied for wastewater treatment. A comparison between biomasses and physically/chemically treated products will be discussed.