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 200438, China.
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.
Bioresour Technol. 2019 Nov;291:121878. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2019.121878. Epub 2019 Jul 24.
Lignin is one of the most promising renewable sources for aromatic hydrocarbons, while effective depolymerization towards its constituent monomers is a particular challenge because of the structural complexity and stability. Intensive research efforts have been directed towards exploiting effective valorization of lignin for the production of bio-based platform chemicals and fuels. The present contribution aims to provide a critical review of key advances in the identification of exact lignin structure subjected to various fractionation technologies and demonstrate the key roles of lignin structures in depolymerization for unique functionalized products. Various technologies (e.g., thermocatalytic approaches, photocatalytic conversion, and mechanochemical depolymerization) are reviewed and evaluated in terms of feasibility and potential for further upgrading. Overall, advances in pristine lignin structure analysis and conversion technologies can facilitate recovery and subsequent utilization of lignin towards tailored commodity chemicals and fungible fuels.
木质素是最有前途的芳香烃可再生资源之一，然而，由于其结构的复杂性和稳定性，有效地将其解聚为单体仍然是一个特别的挑战。人们已经投入了大量的研究努力，旨在开发木质素的有效增值利用，以生产基于生物的平台化学品和燃料。本贡献旨在对各种分级技术下木质素结构的确切鉴定方面的关键进展进行批判性的回顾，并展示木质素结构在解聚为独特功能化产品方面的关键作用。各种技术（例如热催化方法、光催化转化和机械化学解聚）在可行性和进一步升级的潜力方面进行了综述和评估。总体而言，原始木质素结构分析和转化技术的进步可以促进木质素的回收和随后的利用，以生产定制的商品化学品和可替代燃料。
