The implementation of ionic liquids technologies in future biorefineries is challenging. Different approaches can be applied along the entire chain of biomass valorisation to achieve a specific target molecule, from biomass pre-treatment and fractionation processes to extraction, downstream separation and purification methodologies of high value added products and pivot chemicals.

This book summarises recent achievements in the use of ionic liquids in biomass processing as an alternative to conventional processes, particularly in the context of green chemistry. It features real-world case studies where high value-added products have been obtained using ionic liquid processing, demonstrating the practical applications of these technologies. The book concludes by assessing the development of further biorefineries with ionic liquids.

The book is an important reference for researchers and practising chemists, bringing readers up-to-date with current research in this field.

Rafal Bogel-Lukasik is an Assistant Researcher at the National Laboratory for Energy and Geology, Unit of Bioenergy, Portugal. His principal scientific interests are in sustainable chemistry, extraction and separation with CO2, biomass processing with ionic liquids, biorefinery, process design and optimization.

The Biorefinery and Green Chemistry; The Dissolution of Biomass in Ionic LiquidsTowards Pre-Treatment Approach; Ionic Liquid Pre-Treatment of Lignocellulosic Bionass for Biofuels and Chemicals; Biomass Hydrolysis in Ionic Liquids; Relevance of Ionic Liquids and Biomass Feedstocks for Biomolecule Extraction; Toxicity and Bio-Acceptability in the Context of Biological Processes in Ionic Liquid Media; Synthesis of HMF in Ionic Liquids: Biomass-Derived Products; Ionic Liquids as Efficient Tools for the Purification of Biomolecules and Bioproducts from Natural Sources; Ionic Liquds in the Biorefinery: How Green and Sustainable Are They?; Ionic Liquid-Based Processes in the Biorefinery: A SWOT Analysis.