1. Introduction and over 8million tonnes of sugar beet are grown annually in the(Ga UK and sugar beet pulp(SBP) is a significant waste product from com processing currently thesBP is pressed, dried and pelleted in an is c energy intensive process before being sold as low value animal feed blo l 11. SBP is a rich source of carbohydrates that consists mainly ofcel- (po lulose(a po of D-glucose) and pectin(a co-polymer of various chai hexose and pentose sugars) as shown in Fig. 1. Its abundance and low cost suggests that SBP could provide a sustainable feedstock whi for the production of chemical and pharmaceutical intermediates degu within the context of a whole crop biorefinery