Abstract
The rapid worldwide increase in the consumption of fuels and chemicals has led to concern over the depletion of non-renewable resources and the environmental impact of their processing and utilization. The structure of lignin, the second most abundant biopolymer on earth after cellulose, suggests that its deconstruction via various conversion technologies (e.g., gasification, pyrolysis, etc.) can be a renewable alternative for the production of fuels and chemicals. However, commercial conversion of lignin not only into transportation fuels but also commodity and value-added chemicals is currently limited by insufficient development in technologies that 1) overcome the recalcitrance and structural heterogeneity of lignin, 2) isolate and recover lignin as a co-product of and feedstock for fuel/chemical production, and 3) deconstruct lignin in a controlled manner such that product separations are tractable. This chapter introduces topics relevant to the conversion of lignin including the 1) structure and biosynthesis of lignin, 2) isolation and recovery of lignin, and 3) methods used to characterize lignin and its deconstruction products. Major technologies currently being developed with regards to lignin deconstruction and depolymerization are reviewed, focusing on conversion 1) mechanisms, 2) processing factors, and 3) products. Lastly, a future perspective is presented, detailing the potential intersection of lignin genetic engineering with the conversion of lignin into desired products.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Valorization of Lignocellulosic Biomass in a Biorefinery |
| Subtitle of host publication | From Logistics to Environmental and Performance Impact |
| Publisher | Nova Science Publishers, Inc. |
| Pages | 245-292 |
| Number of pages | 48 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9781634858434 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9781634858274 |
| State | Published - Jan 1 2016 |
Keywords
- Biorefinery
- Conversion
- Depolymerization
- Isolation
- Lignin
- Structure