Suitable physical methods are critical for the separation and characterization of
biological products. This applies to every bioprocess proposed to date but the
complexity of this matter strongly depends upon the nature of the raw material and/or
substrate used and the steps required for isolation and purification of the bioproduct(s).
Since the objective of this article is beyond the presentation of each one of these
methods, a specific and yet representative primary and secondary phytobiomass model
(the juice and the bagasse of sugar cane) has been chosen to describe the analytical
bottlenecks associated with biomass utilization. Many questions with regard to the
application of each method have been raised in our discussions and both qualitative and
quantitative assessments of the bioprocess under consideration have been addressed.
Other simpler methodologies such as evaporation, lyophilization (freeze-drying), and
crystallization have not been covered herein.