A review on bioenergetic applications of Leucaena leucocephala

The awareness of the environmental impact of CO2 emission from fossil fuels has resulted in the search for alternative renewable energy sources. Biomass-derived from agro-residues and economic trees have been identified as a sustainable fossil fuel alternative. The Leucaena leucocephala tree is abundant and presents diverse beneficial opportunities as a high-energy density tree. Its ability to thrive in harsh conditions and constituent nutrients render it valuable for biogas, bio-oil, biodiesel, ethanol, char, activated carbon, etc. production. In this review, an overview of the bioenergetic applications of the Leucaena leucocephala tree was discussed with emphasis on the challenges and potentials of production of biodiesel, bio-oil, ethanol, char, biogas, and activated carbon from the seeds, forages and leaves, bark, wood, and legumes of the Leucaena leucocephala. Also, the biorefinery concept was elucidated for the plausible generation of fine chemicals and fuels. It is hoped that this study will intensify research on the production of biofuels and fine chemicals from agro-industrial crops such as Leucaena leucocephala and its integration into biorefinery.