The corn crop biomass (CB) is widely used as a feedstock for biochemicals such as lactic acid, succinic acid, citric acid, xanthan gum, and biofuels likely bioethanol, butanol, and biogas. Since CB provides a resistive structure for enzymatic and microbial attack, ultrasonic treatment can assist to break the recalcitrance structure. Several techniques such as imaging (atomic force microscopy—AFM; scanning electron microscopy—SEM), spectroscopy (energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy—EDX; Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy—FTIR; Raman spectroscopy; X-ray diffraction—XRD), and thermal (TGA) were studied to characterize the ultrasonicated CB. A detailed analysis of different techniques on their potential benefits will assist the researchers to select a suitable technique to optimize the ultrasonication for various applications. The basic mechanisms behind ultrasonication, benefits, downsides, practical considerations, and factors that should be deliberated in the future studies are discussed. Sonication enhanced the hemicellulose and cellulose yield, saccharification rate, and delignification of CB. AFM, EDX, FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, SEM, TGA, and XRD described the variations in topographical features, elemental composition, molecular structure, microstructure, thermal steadiness, and degree of crystallinity, respectively, of the ultrasonicated CB. The quantitative crystallinity of CB can be analyzed through XRD and Raman spectroscopy, whereas the qualitative crystallinity and molecular structural comparisons are studied using FTIR. Imaging techniques can provide important aspects such as lignin relocalization and cell wall delamination. Integrating EDX with SEM is beneficial to determine the elemental percentage composition altered in CB due to ultrasonication.

Graphical abstract

玉米作物生物量（CB）被广泛用作生物化学原料，如乳酸，琥珀酸，柠檬酸，黄原胶和生物燃料，可能是生物乙醇，丁醇和沼气。由于CB为酶和微生物的侵袭提供了一种抵抗性结构，因此超声波处理可以帮助打破顽固性结构。成像技术（原子力显微镜AFM；扫描电子显微镜SEM），光谱法（能量色散X射线光谱仪EDX；傅立叶变换红外光谱仪FTIR；拉曼光谱仪； X射线衍射仪XRD）和研究了热（TGA）以表征超声CB。对不同技术的潜在好处进行详细分析，将有助于研究人员选择合适的技术，以优化各种应用的超声处理。讨论了超声处理背后的基本机制，优点，缺点，实际考虑因素以及将来的研究中应考虑的因素。超声处理提高了半纤维素和纤维素的产量，糖化率和CB的脱木质素。AFM，EDX，FTIR，拉曼光谱，SEM，TGA和XRD分别描述了超声CB的形貌特征，元素组成，分子结构，微观结构，热稳定性和结晶度的变化。可通过XRD和拉曼光谱分析来分析CB的定量结晶度，而使用FTIR研究定性结晶度和分子结构比较。成像技术可提供重要方面，例如木质素重新定位和细胞壁分层。

图形概要