Engineering Plant Biomass Lignin Content and Composition for Biofuels and Bioproducts

Energies

Cassie Marie Welker²  Vimal Kumar Balasubramanian²  Carloalberto Petti¹  Krishan Mohan Rai²  Seth DeBolt³  Venugopal Mendu² 

[1] Department of Science and Health, Carlow Institute of Technology, Kilkenny Rd, Carlow R93V960, Ireland; E-Mail:;Fiber and Biopolymer Research Institute, Department of Plant & Soil Science, Texas Tech University, 2802 15th Street, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA; E-Mails:;Department of Horticulture, University of Kentucky, 1100 Nicholasville Road, Lexington, KY 40546, USA; E-Mail:

关键词: plant cell wall;    lignocellulose;    lignin;    depolymerization;    genetic engineering;    degradation;    pyrolysis;    hydrogenolysis;   

DOI  :  10.3390/en8087654

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Lignin is an aromatic biopolymer involved in providing structural support to plant cell walls. Compared to the other cell wall polymers, i.e., cellulose and hemicelluloses, lignin has been considered a hindrance in cellulosic bioethanol production due to the complexity involved in its separation from other polymers of various biomass feedstocks. Nevertheless, lignin is a potential source of valuable aromatic chemical compounds and upgradable building blocks. Though the biosynthetic pathway of lignin has been elucidated in great detail, the random nature of the polymerization (free radical coupling) process poses challenges for its depolymerization into valuable bioproducts. The absence of specific methodologies for lignin degradation represents an important opportunity for research and development. This review highlights research development in lignin biosynthesis, lignin genetic engineering and different biological and chemical means of depolymerization used to convert lignin into biofuels and bioproducts.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.