Valorization of lignin from aqueous-based lignocellulosic biorefineries

• Published in: Trends in biotechnology (Regular ed.) 2024-11, Vol.42 (11), p.1348-1362
• Main Authors: Chen, Xueli, Mosier, Nathan, Ladisch, Michael
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 03 NATURAL GAS; Agrochemicals; Airlines; Aqueous bioprocessing; Aqueous biorefining; Aviation fuel; Biodiesel fuels; Biofuels; Biomass; Biorefineries; Biotechnology; Capital costs; Carbohydrates; Carbon footprint; Cellulose; Cellulose conversion; Chemical industry; Controlled release; Decarbonization; Energy; Enzymes; Fermentation; Inhibitors; Lignin; Lignin - chemistry; Lignocellulose; Liquefaction; Pulping; Raw materials; Refining; Soil amendment; Soil chemistry; Sugarcane; Sustainable aviation biofuel
• ISSN: 0167-7799; 1879-3096; 1879-3096
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.07.004

Aqueous biorefining may increase the volume of lignin generated by an additional 100 million tons/year.Lignin valorization is essential to the economic success of aqueous biorefineries.Valorization has potential to generate lignin feedstocks for production of sustainable feedstocks for manufacture of sustainable aviation biofuels, agricultural applications, and specialty products.The extent of decarbonization by lignin through agricultural practices that sequester carbon by adding lignin back to the soil remains to be validated. An additional 100 million tons/year of lignin coproduct will result when lignocellulosic biomass is processed in biorefineries to fiber, sugars, biofuels, and bioproducts. This will double the amount of lignin already generated from pulping and paper production. Unlike pulping that results in lignosulphonate (88% of total) or Kraft lignin (9%), aqueous-based biorefining leaves behind non-sulfonated lignin and aromatic molecules. This new type of lignin provides opportunities for large volume agricultural uses such as controlled-release carriers and soil amendments as well as feedstocks for new chemistries that lead to molecular building blocks for the chemical industry and to precursors for sustainable aviation biofuels. An additional 100 million tons/year of lignin coproduct will result when lignocellulosic biomass is processed in biorefineries to fiber, sugars, biofuels, and bioproducts. This will double the amount of lignin already generated from pulping and paper production. Unlike pulping that results in lignosulphonate (88% of total) or Kraft lignin (9%), aqueous-based biorefining leaves behind non-sulfonated lignin and aromatic molecules. This new type of lignin provides opportunities for large volume agricultural uses such as controlled-release carriers and soil amendments as well as feedstocks for new chemistries that lead to molecular building blocks for the chemical industry and to precursors for sustainable aviation biofuels.