| abstract |
Disclosed is a method of processing biomass by the saccharification of a lignocellulosic or cellulosic material (e.g., contacting the material with an enzyme) to produce a carbohydrate solution that can be used in a fuel cell, e.g., a direct glucose fuel cell, an indirect sugar fuel cell and a biological fuel cell. Particularly disclosed is method for producing electricity, the method comprising: providing a fuel to a fuel cell, wherein the fuel is produced by saccharification of a treated cellulosic or lignocellulosic material, and wherein the fuel cell is selected from the group consisting of direct sugar fuel cells, indirect sugar fuel cells and biological fuel cells and wherein, prior to saccharification, the recalcitrance of the cellulosic or lignocellulosic material is reduced relative to that of the cellulosic or lignocellulosic material in its native state by irradiation of the material with ionizing radiation. |