Chen Jiansong, Liu Kun, Du Haishun, Pan Xuejun
Department of Biological Systems Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 460 Henry Mall, Madison, WI, 53706, USA.
ChemSusChem. 2025 Aug 6;18(16):e202500607. doi: 10.1002/cssc.202500607. Epub 2025 Jul 9.
Lignin-a natural, abundant, and renewable biopolymer-has garnered increasing attention for its intrinsic sustainability and versatile chemical architecture. The abundance of reactive functional groups within lignin enables its modification to meet specific application requirements. Nitrogen-functionalized lignin (N-lignin), in particular, has emerged as a focal point in contemporary research, providing a pathway to introduce nitrogen functionality through chemical modifications, grafting copolymerization, or physical blending with nitrogen-containing materials. These strategies significantly enhance the performance of the lignin, making it suitable for diverse applications such as catalysts, antifouling agents, nitrogen-enriched fertilizers, and antibacterial materials. This review offers a comprehensive examination of current methodologies for the nitrogen functionalization of lignin. It also delves into the applications of these functionalized materials in diverse fields, including environmental remediation, biomedicine, energy, catalysis, and agriculture. The analysis highlights the potential of N-lignin to drive sustainable innovations while addressing practical challenges, such as scalability, structural heterogeneity, and process optimization. By synthesizing recent advancements and identifying ongoing challenges, this review provides a roadmap for lignin valorization, emphasizing its transformative role in fostering sustainable technologies and materials.
木质素——一种天然、丰富且可再生的生物聚合物——因其内在的可持续性和多样的化学结构而受到越来越多的关注。木质素中大量的反应性官能团使其能够进行改性以满足特定的应用要求。特别是氮功能化木质素（N-木质素）已成为当代研究的焦点，它提供了一条通过化学改性、接枝共聚或与含氮材料物理共混来引入氮官能团的途径。这些策略显著提高了木质素的性能，使其适用于多种应用，如催化剂、防污剂、富氮肥料和抗菌材料。本综述全面考察了当前木质素氮功能化的方法。它还深入探讨了这些功能化材料在环境修复、生物医学、能源、催化和农业等不同领域的应用。分析突出了N-木质素在推动可持续创新的同时应对实际挑战（如可扩展性、结构异质性和工艺优化）的潜力。通过综合近期进展并识别当前面临的挑战，本综述为木质素增值提供了路线图，强调了其在促进可持续技术和材料方面的变革性作用。
