Vasile Cornelia, Baican Mihaela
Romanian Academy, "P. Poni" Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Physical Chemistry of Polymers Department 41A Grigore Ghica Voda Alley, RO700487 Iaşi, Romania.
"Grigore T. Popa" Medicine and Pharmacy University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences I Department, Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Physics, 16 University Street, RO700115 Iaşi, Romania.
Polymers (Basel). 2023 Jul 26;15(15):3177. doi: 10.3390/polym15153177.
The recycling of biomass into high-value-added materials requires important developments in research and technology to create a sustainable circular economy. Lignin, as a component of biomass, is a multipurpose aromatic polymer with a significant potential to be used as a renewable bioresource in many fields in which it acts both as promising biopolymer and bioactive compound. This comprehensive review gives brief insights into the recent research and technological trends on the potential of lignin development and utilization. It is divided into ten main sections, starting with an outlook on its diversity; main properties and possibilities to be used as a raw material for fuels, aromatic chemicals, plastics, or thermoset substitutes; and new developments in the use of lignin as a bioactive compound and in nanoparticles, hydrogels, 3D-printing-based lignin biomaterials, new sustainable biomaterials, and energy production and storage. In each section are presented recent developments in the preparation of lignin-based biomaterials, especially the green approaches to obtaining nanoparticles, hydrogels, and multifunctional materials as blends and bio(nano)composites; most suitable lignin type for each category of the envisaged products; main properties of the obtained lignin-based materials, etc. Different application categories of lignin within various sectors, which could provide completely sustainable energy conversion, such as in agriculture and environment protection, food packaging, biomedicine, and cosmetics, are also described. The medical and therapeutic potential of lignin-derived materials is evidenced in applications such as antimicrobial, antiviral, and antitumor agents; carriers for drug delivery systems with controlled/targeting drug release; tissue engineering and wound healing; and coatings, natural sunscreen, and surfactants. Lignin is mainly used for fuel, and, recently, studies highlighted more sustainable bioenergy production technologies, such as the supercapacitor electrode, photocatalysts, and photovoltaics.
将生物质转化为高附加值材料需要在研究和技术方面取得重大进展，以创建可持续的循环经济。木质素作为生物质的一种成分，是一种多功能芳香聚合物，在许多领域具有作为可再生生物资源的巨大潜力，在这些领域中它既可以作为有前景的生物聚合物，也可以作为生物活性化合物。这篇综述简要介绍了木质素开发利用潜力的最新研究和技术趋势。它分为十个主要部分，首先展望其多样性；主要特性以及用作燃料、芳香化学品、塑料或热固性替代品原材料的可能性；以及木质素作为生物活性化合物在纳米颗粒、水凝胶、基于3D打印的木质素生物材料、新型可持续生物材料以及能源生产和存储方面的新进展。在每个部分中，都介绍了木质素基生物材料制备的最新进展，特别是获得纳米颗粒、水凝胶和多功能材料（如共混物和生物（纳米）复合材料）的绿色方法；针对每种设想产品最适合的木质素类型；所得木质素基材料的主要特性等。还描述了木质素在各个领域的不同应用类别，这些应用可以提供完全可持续的能量转换，例如在农业和环境保护、食品包装、生物医学和化妆品领域。木质素衍生材料的医学和治疗潜力在抗菌、抗病毒和抗肿瘤剂等应用中得到了证明；具有可控/靶向药物释放的药物递送系统载体；组织工程和伤口愈合；以及涂层、天然防晒霜和表面活性剂。木质素主要用于燃料，最近，研究突出了更可持续的生物能源生产技术，如超级电容器电极、光催化剂和光伏。
