Lignin valorization for the production of renewable chemicals: State-of-the-art review and future prospects

Leichang Cao; Iris K M Yu; Yaoyu Liu; Xiuxiu Ruan; Daniel C W Tsang; Andrew J Hunt; Yong Sik Ok; Hocheol Song; Shicheng Zhang

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2018.08.065

Lignin valorization for the production of renewable chemicals: State-of-the-art review and future prospects

Bioresour Technol. 2018 Dec:269:465-475. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2018.08.065. Epub 2018 Aug 17.

Authors

Leichang Cao¹, Iris K M Yu², Yaoyu Liu³, Xiuxiu Ruan³, Daniel C W Tsang⁴, Andrew J Hunt⁵, Yong Sik Ok⁶, Hocheol Song⁷, Shicheng Zhang⁸

Affiliations

¹ Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention (LAP3), Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China.
² Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.
³ School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, No.99 Shangda Road, Shanghai 200444, China.
⁴ Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China. Electronic address: dan.tsang@polyu.edu.hk.
⁵ Materials Chemistry Research Center, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
⁶ Korea Biochar Research Center, O-Jeong Eco-Resilience Institute (OJERI) & Division of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea.
⁷ Department of Environment and Energy, Sejong University, Seoul 05006, Republic of Korea.
⁸ Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention (LAP3), Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China.

PMID: 30146182
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2018.08.065

Abstract

Lignin is an abundant biomass resource in aromatic structure with a low price in market, which can serve as renewable precursors of value-added products. However, valorization rate of annually produced lignin is less than 2%, suggesting the need for technological advancement to capitalize lignin as a versatile feedstock. In recent years, efficient utilization of lignin has attracted wide attention. This paper summarizes the research advances in the utilization of lignin resources (mainly in the last three years), with a particular emphasis on two major approaches of lignin utilization: catalytic degradation into aromatics and thermochemical treatment for carbon material production. Hydrogenolysis, direct pyrolysis, hydrothermal liquefaction, and hydrothermal carbonization of lignin are discussed in detail. Based on this critical review, future research directions and development prospects are proposed for sustainable and cost-effective lignin valorization.

Keywords: Aromatic derivatives; Biorefinery; Engineered biochar; Hydrogenolysis; Hydrothermal liquefaction.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Biomass
Carbon
Catalysis
Lignin / chemistry*

Substances

Carbon
Lignin