Paving the Way for Lignin Valorisation: Recent Advances in Bioengineering, Biorefining and Catalysis

Lignin is an abundant biopolymer with a high carbon content and high aromaticity. Despite its potential as a raw material for the fuel and chemical industries, lignin remains the most poorly utilised of the lignocellulosic biopolymers. Effective valorisation of lignin requires careful fine-tuning of multiple "upstream" (i.e., lignin bioengineering, lignin isolation and "early-stage catalytic conversion of lignin") and "downstream" (i.e., lignin depolymerisation and upgrading) process stages, demanding input and understanding from a broad array of scientific disciplines. This review provides a "beginning-to-end" analysis of the recent advances reported in lignin valorisation. Particular emphasis is placed on…

• UD
  U.S. Department of Energy

  Awards: FC02-07ER64494, 07ER64494, DE-FC02-07ER64494
• AV
  Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung
• EC
  European Commission

  Awards: 607044, FP7-PEOPLE-2013
• KN
  Koninklijke Nederlandse Akademie van Wetenschappen
• NO
  Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek
• OO
  Office of Science

  Awards: DE-FC02-07ER64494, FC02-07ER64494
• GL
  Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center

  Award: DE-FC02-07ER64494
• ER
  European Research Council

  Award: 321140
• FP
  FP7 People: Marie-Curie Actions

  Awards: 607044, FP7-PEOPLE-2013