Potential Applications of Hemicellulose

The hemicelluloses are one of the constituents of the lignocellulosic biomass with specific characteristics and can provide different products within the production chain of a biorefinery. The recovery process of hemicelluloses has allowed the production of several value-added and bioenergy compounds. In general, in a process of recycling of lignocellulose, the hemicelluloses are not reused in their entirety, with cellulose and lignin being more prominent. However, from its fractionation, the use of this biopolymer is expanded with the assembly of several bioproducts, materials, chemicals, and biofuels. This chapter presents a brief description of the structure of hemicelluloses, as well as their general characteristics and classification. Afterward, some products obtained from hemicelluloses with high added value such as xylooligosaccharides, xylitol, bioethanol, and furan among others are highlighted.