Disclosed is a method comprising: burning a lignin-containing residue to generate energy, wherein the lignin-containing residue is a post-distillate solid produced by: irradiating a lignocellulosic material, saccharifying the lignocellulosic material utilizing an enzyme, fermenting the saccharified material utilizing an organism to produce a fermentation product, and distilling the fermentation product from the lignin-containing residues, wherein irradiating comprises treating with electron beam radiation.
