In the last decade, there has been increasing research interest in the value of bio-sourced materials recovered from residual biomass. Research that focuses on the use of extracted, recovered and/or synthesized bioproducts for direct industrial applications is essential for the implementation of sustainable approaches in a forward-looking bio-based economy. The effective use of biomass feedstocks, particularly lignocellulosic materials (plant biomass predominantly comprised of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin), in large-scale applications will evolve from innovative research aimed at the development and implementation of biorefineries - multi-step, multi-product facilities established for specific bio-sourced feedstocks. This paper presents recent advances in lignocellulosic biomass processing and analysis from a biorefining perspective. In addition, existing industrial biomass processing applications are discussed and examined within a biorefinery context. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.