Search

Lignin is the most abundant natural phenolic polymer. However, the severe condensations of industrial lignin resulted in an undesirable apparent morphology and darker color, which hindered its application in the field of daily chemicals. Therefore, a ternary deep eutectic solvent is used to obtain lignin with light-color and low condensations from softwood. The results showed that the brightness value of lignin extracted from aluminum chloride-1,4-butanediol-choline chloride at 100 °C and 1.0 h was 77.9, and the lignin yield was 32.2 ± 0.6%. It is important that 95.8% of β-O-4 linkages (β-O-4 and β-O-4') was retained. Lignin is used to prepare sunscreens and is added to physical sunscreens at 5%, with SPF up to 26.95 ± 4.20. Meanwhile, enzyme hydrolysis experiments and reaction liquid composition tests were also conducted. In conclusion, a systematic understanding of this efficient process could facilitate high-value utilization of lignocellulosic biomass in industrial processes., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

One of the key strategies for valorizing kraft lignin (KL) into value-added products such as bio-based adhesives is to perform solvent fractionation of KL to produce lignin with improved homogeneity. Understanding the structure and properties of fractionated KL will aid in the selection of the best samples for certain applications. In this study, acetone-fractionated KL from softwood and hardwood was characterized to understand its chemical structure, elemental composition, molecular weight, and thermal properties. The results revealed that acetone-insoluble KL (AIKL) fractions from softwood and hardwood have greater molecular weight, polydispersity, glass temperature, carbohydrate content, aliphatic hydroxyl groups, and a variety of native wood lignin side chains. In contrast, acetone-soluble KL (ASKL) fractions have a significantly lower molecular weight and polydispersity, a lower glass-transition temperature, a more condensed structure, more aromatic hydroxyl groups, and fewer native wood lignin side chains. In addition, the ASKL samples demonstrated stronger adhesive force and work of adhesion toward phenol-formaldehyde (PF) and urea-formaldehyde (UF) resins than the AIKL samples, regardless of the lignin source. These findings suggest that ASKL has great potential as a substitute for phenol in PF resins and as a green additive to reinforce UF resins., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest There are no conflicts of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Lignin displays a highly challenging renewable. To date, massive amounts of lignin, generated in lignocellulosic processing facilities, are for the most part merely burned due to lacking value-added alternatives. Aromatic lignin monomers of recognized relevance are in particular vanillin, and to a lesser extent vanillate, because they are accessible at high yield from softwood-lignin using industrially operated alkaline oxidative depolymerization. Here, we metabolically engineered C. glutamicum towards cis, cis-muconate (MA) production from these key aromatics. Starting from the previously created catechol-based producer C. glutamicum MA-2, systems metabolic engineering first discovered an unspecific aromatic aldehyde reductase that formed aromatic alcohols from vanillin, protocatechualdehyde, and p- hydroxybenzaldehyde, and was responsible for the conversion up to 57% of vanillin into vanillyl alcohol. The alcohol was not re-consumed by the microbe later, posing a strong drawback on the producer. The identification and subsequent elimination of the encoding fudC gene completely abolished vanillyl alcohol formation. Second, the initially weak flux through the native vanillin and vanillate metabolism was enhanced up to 2.9-fold by implementing synthetic pathway modules. Third, the most efficient protocatechuate decarboxylase AroY for conversion of the midstream pathway intermediate protocatechuate into catechol was identified out of several variants in native and codon optimized form and expressed together with the respective helper proteins. Fourth, the streamlined modules were all genomically combined which yielded the final strain MA-9. MA-9 produced bio-based MA from vanillin, vanillate, and seven structurally related aromatics at maximum selectivity. In addition, MA production from softwood-based vanillin, obtained through alkaline depolymerization, was demonstrated., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have filed patent applications on the use of lignin for bio-production., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Vanillin and vanillate are the major lignin-derived aromatic compounds produced through the alkaline oxidation of softwood lignin. Because the production of higher-value added chemicals from these compounds is essential for lignin valorization, the microbial production of β-ketoadipate, a promising raw material for the synthesis of novel nylons, from lignin was considered. Pseudomonas putida KT2440 was engineered to convert vanillin and vanillate to β-ketoadipate. By examining the culture conditions with an initial culture volume of 1 L, the engineered strain completely converted 25 g of vanillin and 25 g of vanillate and produced approximately 23 g of β-ketoadipate from each of them with a yield of 93% or higher. Furthermore, this strain showed the ability to efficiently produce β-ketoadipate from softwood lignin extracts in black liquor, a byproduct of pulp production. These results suggest that the production of β-ketoadipate from industrial black liquor is highly feasible for substantial lignin valorization., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

The present study demonstrated a sustainable and cost-effective approach to depolymerize/oxidize softwood (SW) and hardwood (HW) kraft lignins using concentrated hydrogen peroxide at temperatures ranging from 25 to 35 °C, in the absence of catalysts or organic solvents. The degree of lignin depolymerization could be simply controlled by reaction time, and no further separation process was needed at the completion of the treatment. The obtained depolymerized lignin products were comprehensively characterized by GPC-UV, FTIR, 31 P-NMR, TGA, Py-GC/MS and elemental analysis. The weight-average molecular weights (M w ) of the depolymerized lignins obtained from SW or HW lignin at a lignin/H 2 O 2 mass ratio of 1:1 after treatment for 120 h at room temperature (≈25 °C) were approximately 1420 Da. The contents of carboxylic acid groups in the obtained depolymerized lignins were found to significantly increase compared with those of the untreated raw lignins. Moreover, the depolymerized lignin products had lower thermal decomposition temperatures than those of the raw lignins, as expected, owing to the greatly reduced M w . These findings represent a novel solution to lignin depolymerization for the production of chemicals that can be utilized as a bio-substitute for petroleum-based polyols in polyurethane production.

For a transition to a sustainable society, fuels, chemicals, and materials should be produced from renewable resources. Lignocellulosic biomass constitutes an abundant and renewable feedstock; however, its successful application in a biorefinery requires efficient fractionation into its components; cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. Here, we demonstrate that a newly established hybrid organosolv - steam explosion pretreatment can effectively fractionate spruce biomass to yield pretreated solids with high cellulose (72% w/w) and low lignin (delignification up to 79.4% w/w) content. The cellulose-rich pretreated solids present high saccharification yields (up to 61% w/w) making them ideal for subsequent bioconversion processes. Moreover, under high-gravity conditions (22% w/w) we obtained an ethanol titer of 61.7 g/L, the highest so far reported for spruce biomass. Finally, the obtained high-purity lignin is suitable for various advanced applications. In conclusion, hybrid organosolv pretreatment could offer a closed-loop biorefinery while simultaneously adding value to all biomass components., (Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

The effect of ball milling expressed as the yield of milled wood lignin (MWL) on the structure and molar mass of crude milled wood lignin (MWLc) preparation is studied to better understand the process' fundamentals and find optimal conditions for MWL isolation (i.e., to obtain the most representative sample with minimal degradation). Softwood (loblolly pine) MWLc preparations with yields of 20⁻75% have been isolated and characterized based on their molar mass distribution (by Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC)), hydroxyl groups of different types ( 31 P NMR), methoxyl groups (HS-ID GC-MS), and sugar composition (based on methanolysis). Classical MWL purification is not used to access the whole extracted lignin. The results indicate that lignin degradation during ball milling occurs predominantly in the high molar mass fraction and is less pronounced in the low molar mass fraction. This results in a significant decrease in the M z and M w of the extracted MWLc with an increase in the yield of MWLc, but has only a very subtle effect on the lignin structure if the yield of MWLc is kept below about 55%. Therefore, no tedious optimization of process variables is necessary to achieve the required MWLc yield in this range for structural studies of softwood MWL. The sugar composition shows higher amounts of pectin components in MWLs of low yields and higher amounts of glucan and mannan in high-yield MWLs, confirming that lignin extraction starts from the middle lamella in the earlier stages of MWL isolation, followed by lignin extraction from the secondary wall region.

Lignin is nature's second most abundant polymer and displays a largely unexploited renewable resource for value-added bio-production. None of the lignin-based fermentation processes so far managed to use guaiacol (2-methoxy phenol), the predominant aromatic monomer in depolymerized lignin. In this work, we describe metabolic engineering of Amycolatopsis sp. ATCC 39116 to produce cis,cis-muconic acid (MA), a precursor of recognized industrial value for commercial plastics, from guaiacol. The microbe utilized a very broad spectrum of lignin-based aromatics, such as catechol, guaiacol, phenol, toluene, p-coumarate, and benzoate, tolerated them in elevated amounts and even preferred them over sugars. As a next step, we developed a novel approach for genomic engineering of this challenging, GC-rich actinomycete. The successful introduction of conjugation and blue-white screening, using β-glucuronidase, enabled tailored genomic modifications within ten days. Successive deletion of two putative muconate cycloisomerases from the genome provided the mutant Amycolatopsis sp. ATCC 39116 MA-2, which accumulated 3.1gL -1 MA from guaiacol within 24h, achieving a yield of 96%. The mutant was found also capable to produce MA from a guaiacol-rich true lignin hydrolysate, obtained from pine through hydrothermal conversion. This provides an important proof-of-concept to successfully coupling chemical and biochemical process steps into a value chain from the lignin polymer to an industrial chemical. In addition, Amycolatopsis sp. ATCC 39116 MA-2 was able to produce 2-methyl MA from o-cresol (2-methyl phenol), which opens possibilities towards polymers with novel architecture and properties., (Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Conifers (softwoods) naturally lack syringyl units in their lignins, rendering lignocellulosic materials from such species more difficult to process than syringyl-rich hardwood species. Using a transformable Pinus radiata tracheary element (TE) system as an experimental platform, we investigated whether metabolic engineering can be used to create syringyl lignin in conifers. Pyrolysis-GC/MS and 2D-NMR analysis of P. radiata TE cultures transformed to express ferulate 5-hydroxylase (F5H) and caffeic acid O-methyltransferase (COMT) from Liquidambar styraciflua confirmed the production and incorporation of sinapyl alcohol into the lignin polymer. Transformation with F5H was sufficient for the production of syringyl lignin in TEs, but cotransformation with COMT improved its formation. In addition, lower levels of the pathway intermediate 5-hydroxyconiferyl alcohol were evidenced in cotransformation experiments, indicating that the introduction of the COMT overcame the inefficiency of the native pine methyltransferases for supporting sinapyl alcohol production.Our results provide the proof of concept that it is possible to generate a lignin polymer that contains syringyl units in softwood species such as P. radiata, suggesting that it might be possible to retain the outstanding fiber properties of softwoods while imbuing them with the lignin characteristics of hardwoods that are more favorable for industrial processing.

This study investigated the effect of high-temperature saturated steam treatments on the chemical characteristics and enzymatic saccharification of softwood and hardwood. The weight loss and chemical modification of cedar and beech wood pieces treated at 25, 35, and 45 atm for 5 min were determined. Fourier transform infrared and X-ray diffraction analyses indicated that solubilization and removal of hemicellulose and lignin occurred by the steam treatment. The milling treatment of steam-treated wood enhanced its enzymatic saccharification. Maximum enzymatic saccharification (i.e., 94% saccharification rate of cellulose) was obtained using steam-treated beech at 35 atm for 5 min followed by milling treatment for 1 min. However, the necessity of the milling treatment for efficient enzymatic saccharification is dependent on the wood species., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) have been investigated for biomedical applications in medical imaging due to their fluorescent properties, overall long-term stability, and excellent cytocompatibility and biocompatibility. Lignin is an organic polymer in the tissues of woody plants. It is also considered a byproduct of the wood and pulp industries. Hence, it presents as a renewable source of carbon nanoparticles. In this study, we report the synthesis and material and biological characterization of two colloidal suspensions of CQDs in water derived from lignin-based carbon. One was the native form of CQDs derived from lignin carbon, and the second was doped with nitrogen to evaluate material differences. Material characterization was carried out using various commonly used techniques, including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), emission and absorbance spectra, zeta potential, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Thin films of CQDs were formed on glass and silicon substrates to assess the in vitro cytocompatibility with human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). Observations suggest that the two forms of CQDs promote cell attachment within 24 h and sustain it for at least 7 days. The overall structure and shape of cells suggest a lack of any adverse or toxic effects of CQDs. The data lay down the novel foundation to support the use of lignin-derived CQDs in tissue engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, digital light processing (DLP) was utilized to generate 3D-printed blends composed of photosensitive acrylate-modified polylactic acid (PLA) resin mixed with varying weight ratios of lignin extracted from softwood, typically ranging from 5 wt% to 30 wt%. The microstructure of these 3D-printed blends was examined through X-ray microtomography. Additionally, the tensile mechanical properties of all blends were assessed in relation to the weight ratio and post-curing treatment. The results suggest that post-curing significantly influences the tensile properties of the 3D-printed composites, especially in modulating the brittleness of the prints. Furthermore, an optimal weight ratio was identified to be around 5 wt%, beyond which UV light photopolymerization experiences compromises. These findings regarding acrylate-modified PLA/lignin blends offer a cost-effective alternative for producing 3D-printed bio-sourced components, maintaining technical performance in reasonable-cost, low-temperature 3D printing, and with a low environmental footprint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) is an evergreen coniferous tree with wide distribution and good growth performance in a range of habitats. Therefore, wood from P. sylvestris is produced in many managed forests and is frequently used in industry. Despite the importance of pine wood, we still do not fully understand its molecular structure what limits improvements in its processing. One of the basic features leading to variation in wood properties is the presence of earlywood and latewood which form annual growth rings. Here, we characterise biochemical traits that differentiate cell walls of earlywood and latewood in Scots pine. We discover that latewood is less recalcitrant to enzymatic digestion, with galactoglucomannan showing particularly pronounced difference in accessibility. Interestingly, characterisation of lignin reveals a higher proportion of coniferaldehydes in pine latewood and suggests the presence of a different linkage landscape in this wood type. With complementary analysis of wood polysaccharides this enabled us to propose the first detailed molecular model of earlywood and latewood and to conclude that the variation in lignin structure is likely the main determinant of differences in recalcitrance observed between the two wood types in pine. Our discoveries lay the foundation for improvements in industrial processes that use pine wood since we show clear pathways for increasing the efficiency of enzymatic processing of this renewable material. Our work will help guide future breeding of pine trees with desired timber properties and can help link molecular structure of softwood cell walls to function of the different types of xylem in conifers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vanillin is a popular and versatile flavor compound, almost entirely produced from petroleum‐derived phenol by a multi‐step chemical synthesis. The process is hazardous to the environment and unsustainable for its fossil oil usage. Therefore, developing environmentally friendly, efficient, and sustainable routes to biobased vanillin is essential. Here, we report on vanillin production from 4‐n‐propylguaiacol (4PG), one of the main components in lignin oil obtained through reductive catalytic fractionation (RCF) of soft wood, by employing recombinant Escherichia coli cells. Conversion is based on the expression of two engineered oxidative enzymes: a 4‐n‐propylguaiacol oxidase and an isoeugenol dioxygenase. A high yield of vanillin, 66% from 4PG in RCF lignin oil was achieved through rounds of optimisation of the whole‐cell conversion process. This high‐performance strategy was readily scaled up to produce vanillin at an unprecedented 18% and 3% yield based on lignin oil and spruce wood respectively. The whole‐cell bioconversion process shows good tolerance even at high loadings of starting material, showcasing the robustness and applicability of the employed biocatalysts. This work paves the way for further development towards the efficient production of high‐titer biobased vanillin using depolymerised lignin as the feedstock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adhesion of fibers within a spun tow, including carbon fibers and precursors, is undesirable as it may interrupt the manufacturing process and entail inferior fiber properties. In this work, softwood kraft lignin was used together with a dissolving pulp to spin carbon fiber precursors. Lignin–cellulose precursors have previously been found to be prone to fiber fusion, both post-spinning and during carbon fiber conversion. In this study, the efficiency of applying different kinds of spin finishes, with respect to rendering separable precursors and carbon fibers, has been investigated. It was found that applying a cationic surfactant, and to a similar extent a nonionic surfactant, resulted in well separated lignin–cellulose precursor tows. Furthermore, the fiber separability after carbon fiber conversion was evaluated, and notably, precursors treated with a silicone-based spin finish generated the most well-separated carbon fibers. The underlying mechanism of fiber fusion post-spinning and converted carbon fibers is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wood modification by impregnation and curing inside of the cell wall using phenol–formaldehyde resins (PF resins) is a well-known and commercialized method to improve, amongst others, the dimensional stability and the durability of wood. However, phenol is mainly obtained from non-renewable resources, and the substitution of phenol by renewable resources has been a topic of research interest for years. Due to the high availability of technical lignins, lignin-derived cleavage products are promising candidates. In this study, organic cleavage products obtained from vacuum low-temperature microwave-assisted pyrolysis of softwood kraft lignin were used to substitute up to 45% of phenol in PF resins. The curing behavior and the free formaldehyde content of the resins was studied. Pine sapwood was treated with these resins by a vacuum pressure treatment, and the weight percent gain, leaching, and dimensional stability of the species were examined. Selected samples were analyzed with bright-field microscopy. The results indicate that up to 30% substitution of phenol by lignin-based organic products does not lead to significantly inferior quality of wood modification. Additionally, the amount of formaldehyde added to the resin can be reduced. The method described in this study could be a way to improve the environmental footprint of wood modification by PF resins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we entirely replaced petroleum‐based bisphenol A (BPA) with unmodified kraft softwood lignin in epoxy resin formulation. Epoxidized lignin was prepared by reacting lignin with biobased epichlorohydrin (ECH) made from glycerol, and the formation of epoxide rings was confirmed by measuring the epoxy content of the epoxidized lignin using titration and Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). A fully biobased epoxy resin was then prepared by mixing the epoxidized lignin with a biobased curing agent derived from chew nutshell (from Cardolite Co.). Pre‐impregnated composite sheets were fabricated by impregnating unidirectional bamboo fibers with the developed water‐dispersion epoxy resin. The properties of the biobased composite samples were measured using a dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and a universal testing machine. The flexural strength of the lignin‐based epoxy composite was found to be 36% lower (14 MPa) compared to commercial epoxy (22 MPa). However, when bamboo fibers were added to the lignin‐based biocomposite (containing 25 wt.%), a higher flexural strength (116 MPa) was observed, representing an increase of 11% compared to the biocomposite made with EPON and bamboo fiber (104 MPa). Similarly, the addition of bamboo fibers to the lignin epoxy resulted in an increase in the flexural modulus by 1255% (from 0.42 to 5.69 GPa), while the flexural modulus of commercial epoxy was increased by only 736% (from 0.58 to 4.85 GPa). This was attributed to the higher compatibility of bamboo fiber with lignin, which is known to act as a natural glue in plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Colloidal particles from kraft lignin acetone fractions as Pickering stabilizers. • Particles produced by hydrotropic precipitation stabilized O/W Pickering emulsions. • Structural traits of lignin samples correlated with Pickering emulsion properties. • Physicochemical features and antioxidant power of Pickering emulsions were modulated. Colloidal lignin particles (CLPs) emerge as a sustainable alternative to traditional, fossil-based emulsion stabilizers. However, effectively outperforming the conventional ingredients requires addressing the challenges posed by lignin heterogeneity and structural complexity. In this study, one-step acetone fractionation was applied to softwood and hardwood kraft lignins to tackle the issue. The resulting soluble (AS) and insoluble (AI) fractions, along with the pristine lignins, underwent thorough characterization and were used to create CLPs through the hydrotropic precipitation. The acetone fraction-derived CLPs were tested for the first time as Pickering stabilizers. Notably, a strong correlation emerged between the structural traits of each lignin sample and the properties of the resulting Pickering emulsions. Such correlation allowed for a fine-tuning of their physicochemical and antioxidant features. The AS fractions, characterized by higher phenolic OH content and lower molecular weight, led to CLPs with larger sizes and reduced hydrophilic character compared to those derived from AI- and pristine lignins. The fraction-derived CLPs exhibited superior emulsifying capacity and imparted long-term stability to the formed emulsions. Moreover, the resulting Pickering emulsions showed high potential as antioxidant agents, proving their ability as multifunctional systems. Overall, this work demonstrates how the unique properties of lignin can be selectively enhanced through acetone fractionation method and seamlessly transferred to Pickering emulsions. This advancement promotes the use of lignin in high-value-added sectors such as cosmetics and personal care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-energy radiation preferentially degrades cellulose and enriches lignin content at wood surfaces particularly in hardwoods. Accordingly, we hypothesize that a similar effect will occur at surfaces exposed to plasma. We test this hypothesis by plasma-treating pine and poplar veneers and assessing changes in the lignin and holocellulose-derived sugar-content of veneers; quantifying etching of pellets containing lignin and cellulose, and observing etching of different cell wall layers in pine and Homalium. The majority but not all of our results support our hypothesis. Lignin-rich regions of wood cell walls were easier to see after plasma treatment. We discuss the potential uses of plasma-etching for the study of wood ultrastructure and the creation of wood surfaces with self-bonding properties, and conclude that plasma-etching can be used as an alternative to chemical pretreatments for ultrastructural studies of the distribution of lignin in wood cell walls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aims to evaluate the structural characteristics and study the oxidative depolymerization of lignins obtained from hardwood and softwood sulfite liquors. Lignins were obtained after ultrafiltration and freeze-drying of the sulfite liquors and characterized based on inorganic content, nitrobenzene oxidation, 13C NMR, and molecular weight determination. The structural characteristics achieved allow evaluating the potential of each lignin through oxidative depolymerization to produce added-value phenolic monomers. Hardwood and softwood lignins were submitted to alkaline oxidation with oxygen and the reaction conditions optimized to obtain a final oxidation mixture with the maximum yield of phenolic monomers. Through oxidation with O 2 , hardwood lignin generates mostly syringaldehyde while lignin from softwood biomass mainly produces vanillin; moreover, a lower reaction time and the interruption of O 2 admission avoid the degradation of the oxidation products in the final mixture for both lignins, more evidenced to hardwood lignin due to its higher reactivity. From the results, it is possible to conclude that a phenolic aldehyde-rich oxidation mixture could be obtained, confirming the viability of lignin as raw material to produce added-value products as vanillin and syringaldehyde. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pretreatment effects of acetone/phenoxyethanol/water (APW) system on three common softwoods (Chinese fir, cypress, and Pinus massoniana) were investigated in this study. Under 125 °C for 150 min, more than 80% of lignin and nearly 100% of hemicellulose were removed from these softwoods without coupling with other pretreatment methods. Moreover, the enzymatic hydrolysis efficiency of these wet residues was more than 88%. The characterization of the residue revealed that the APW system could effectively destroy the structure of lignocellulose and expose the cellulose to the surface, which enhanced enzymatic hydrolysis. Furthermore, the β-O-4, β-5, and β-β linkages between the lignin were destroyed, and the condensation structure appeared between G 2 and G 5 units. The Mw and Mn of lignin were reduced to 5642 and 1293 g/mol, and lignin with well pyrolysis activity was achieved. This study provides a potentially effective way to fractionate softwoods for biorefinery. [Display omitted] • The pretreatment effects of APW system on three softwoods were studied. • All removal rates of lignin for three softwoods were more than 80%. • The enzymatic hydrolysis efficiency of three softwoods was higher than 88%. • The linkages between lignin were destroyed after pretreatment. • Lignin with low molecular weight and outstanding pyrolysis activity was recovered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spent sulfite liquor (SSL) from softwood processing is rich in hemicellulose (acetyl galactoglucomannan, AcGGM), lignin, and lignin-derived compounds. We investigated the effect of sequential AcGGM purification on the enzymatic bioconversion of AcGGM. SSL was processed through three consecutive purification steps (membrane filtration, precipitation, and adsorption) to obtain AcGGM with increasing purity. Significant reduction (~99%) in lignin content and modest loss (~18%) of polysaccharides was observed during purification from the least pure preparation (UFR), obtained by membrane filtration, compared to the purest preparation (AD), obtained by adsorption. AcGGM (~14.5 kDa) was the major polysaccharide in the preparations; its enzymatic hydrolysis was assessed by reducing sugar and high-performance anion-exchange chromatography analysis. The hydrolysis of the UFR preparation with Viscozyme L or Trichoderma reesei β-mannanase TrMan5A (1 mg/mL) resulted in less than ~50% bioconversion of AcGGM. The AcGGM in the AD preparation was hydrolyzed to a higher degree (~67% with TrMan5A and 80% with Viscozyme L) and showed the highest conversion rate. This indicates that SSL contains enzyme-inhibitory compounds (e.g., lignin and lignin-derived compounds such as lignosulfonates) which were successfully removed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To elucidate the impact of starting lignins on pyrolysis characteristics and kinetics of lignin, seven lignins were pyrolyzed on a thermogravimetric (TG) analyzer. Results show that hardwood lignins showed derivative thermogravimetric (DTG) curves with one weight loss peak, softwood lignin showed a curve with two weight loss peaks, while grass lignins showed curves with a main weight loss peak and a shoulder peak. The average apparent activation energy (Ea) obtained with Starink model-free method varied greatly across the lignins. Prepared under mild conditions, the Ea values followed the order as grass lignin > hardwood lignin > softwood lignin. The most probable mechanism functions (MPMF) determined by Coats-Redfern model-fitting method also depended upon the lignins. This work shows that the slow pyrolysis behavior of lignin and the kinetic parameters are tightly related to its structure which depended greatly upon the biomass sources and isolation methods. More weak linkage structures, like β − O − 4 linkage, ferulates, and p-coumarates, could lead to the lower activation energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is a challenging task to simultaneously achieve selective depolymerization and valorization of lignin due to their complex structure and relatively stable bonds. We herein report an efficient depolymerization strategy that employs 2,3‐dichloro‐5,6‐dicyano‐1,4‐benzoquinone (DDQ) as oxidant/catalyst to selectively convert different oxidized lignin models to a wide variety of 2‐phenylbenzimidazole‐based compounds in up to 94 % yields, by reacting with o‐phenylenediamines with varied substituents. This method could take full advantage of both Cβ and/or Cγ atom in lignin structure to furnish the desirable products instead of forming byproducts, thus exhibiting high atom economy. Furthermore, this strategy can effectively transform both the oxidized hardwood (birch) and softwood (pine) lignin into the corresponding degradation products in up to 45 wt% and 30 wt%, respectively. Through a "one‐pot" process, we have successfully realized the oxidation/depolymerization/valorization of natural birch lignin at the same time and produced the benzimidazole derivatives in up to 67 wt% total yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alkaline aerobic oxidation is a promising way to convert lignin to low molecular weight phenols, especially 4-hydroxybenzaldehydes. Our previous studies reported that oxidation of softwood lignin samples with a bulky cation, Bu4N+, facilitates selective production of vanillin (4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde). This study presents vanillin production from native softwood lignin in Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) in NaOH aq. in the presence of cyclic polyethers, with our expectation that Na+-polyether complexes exhibit effects similar to those of Bu4N+. Oxidation of wood flour (10 mg) in 4.0 M NaOH aq. (2.0 mL) at 120 °C under air gave vanillin with 6.2 wt% lignin-based yield, which was raised to 15.2 wt% by the addition of 15-crown-5 (1,4,7,10,13-pentaoxacyclopentadecane). On the other hand, such effect was not observed with the addition of tetraethylene glycol dimethyl ether, a non-cyclic analog of 15-crown-5. Mechanistic study with a lignin model compound revealed that stabilization of a vanillin precursor by the complex cation was a reason for the increased vanillin yield exhibited by the crown ether. This is similar to the influence of Bu4N+ reported previously, suggesting effective control of aerobic oxidation by large size cationic species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The valorization of lignin, a major component of plant-derived biomass, is essential to sustainable biorefining. We identified the major monoaromatic compounds present in black liquor, a lignin-rich stream generated in the kraft pulping process, and investigated their bacterial transformation. Among tested solvents, acetone extracted the greatest amount of monoaromatic compounds from softwood black liquor, with guaiacol, vanillin, and acetovanillone, in an approximately 4:3:2 ratio, constituting ~90% of the total extracted monoaromatic content. 4-Ethanol guaiacol, vanillate, and 4-propanol guaiacol were also present. Bacterial strains that grew on minimal media supplemented with the BL extracts at 1mM total aromatic compounds included Pseudomonas putida KT2442, Sphingobium sp. SYK-6, and Rhodococcus rhodochrous EP4. By contrast, the extracts inhibited the growth of Rhodococcus jostii RHA1 and Rhodococcus opacus PD630, strains extensively studied for lignin valorization. Of the strains that grew on the extracts, only R. rhodochrous GD01 and GD02, isolated for their ability to grow on acetovanillone, depleted the major extracted monoaromatics. Genomic analyses revealed that EP4, GD01, and GD02 share an average nucleotide identity (ANI) of 98% and that GD01 and GD02 harbor a predicted three-component carboxylase not present in EP4. A representative carboxylase gene was upregulated ~100-fold during growth of GD02 on a mixture of the BL monoaromatics, consistent with the involvement of the enzyme in acetovanillone catabolism. More generally, quantitative RT-PCR indicated that GD02 catabolizes the BL compounds in a convergent manner via the β-ketoadipate pathway. Overall, these studies help define the catabolic capabilities of potential biocatalytic strains, describe new isolates able to catabolize the major monoaromatic components of BL, including acetovanillone, and facilitate the design of biocatalysts to valorize under-utilized components of industrial lignin streams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study, in the form of a patent evaluation, which is a technique for studying the information present within and attached to patents, describes the state of the art by introducing what has been patented in relation to softwood lignin derivatives. Inventors have described and claimed, through the US9347177B2 patent, a method for the preparation of derivatives of native lignin from softwood sources that have a certain aliphatic hydroxyl content. The invention covered by the patent concerns the processes of treating or compounding macromolecular substances and compositions of lignin-containing materials, as well as lignin and products derived therefrom. To prove the concept of this invention, recovery of lignin derivatives has been carried out from three softwood species. Samples of each softwood biomass feedstock were treated using an acid-catalyzed ethanol organosolv pulping process under different conditions. As a result, the recovered lignin derivatives may have an aliphatic hydroxyl content of 2.5−7 mmol.g−1, a phenolic hydroxyl content of 2−8 mmol.g−1, a molecular weight that varies in the range of 200−4000 g.mol−1, and any suitable polydispersity of 1−5. These features result in a product with more consistent antioxidant activity. Furthermore, these recovered lignin derivatives may be advantageous when formulating such compositions, making these materials highly desired for wide applications.

Lignin, an industrial by-product that is abundant, renewable and has aromatic ring characteristics, is regarded as an ideal raw material for the synthesis of two-dimensional graphene materials. However, the sustainable development of graphene produced from lignin faces thorny challenges such as environmental pollution, low yield, cumbersome steps and harsh conditions. In this study, low-energy, green, large-scale one-step preparation of sulfur-doped graphene was achieved by co-blending lignin and sodium alginate into a fully biomass-based film, followed by easy-to-operate laser etching. Among them, alkaline lignin not only served as a carbon source but also acted as a sulfur doping source, avoiding the use of additional sulfur doping reagents. The results showed that the sheet resistance of graphene gradually decreased with the increase of laser power. The sheet resistance of graphene prepared when the laser power was 90% was as low as 8 Ω sq−1, which provided an inherent advantage for the subsequent assembly of flexible micro-supercapacitors. The specific capacitance and high energy density of the resulting supercapacitor were as high as 88.29 mF cm−2 and 12.26 μW h cm−2, respectively. This method successfully developed a sustainable and low-energy graphene preparation method, paving the way for the sustainable development of flexible energy storage devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A compact desktop near-infrared spectrometer with near-infrared spectrum acquisition software was developed based on fixed grating type fiber optic spectrometer with MEMS technology. The light source stability, baseline stability, instrument signal-to-noise ratio, and dark current drift are four important indicators for the performance test and evaluation of the spectral system. The test results show that the light source reaches a stable state after being warmed up for 2 s. The standard deviation of 100% T-line of 1200–1550 nm instrument is less than 0.0003, and the signal-to-noise ratio is 3000:1. The dark current relative standard deviation fluctuates between 0.0019 and 0.0035. Based on 88 samples of the crushed material of lumber for wood cellulose and lignin contents, the quantitative calibration model was established using multiple scatter correction spectra pretreatment method set up after the correction model of cellulose and lignin. Root mean square errors of calibration set of cellulose and lignin are 0.6096 and 0.9572%, respectively. Root mean square errors of prediction set of cellulose and lignin are 1.2884 and 1.7712%, respectively. The experimental results show that the developed small NIR spectrometer has a stable working state, and the prediction results for cellulose and lignin content based on the calibration model for powdery wood samples verify that the small NIR spectrometer has a high detection accuracy and can be used in the rapid detection of common materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most of our knowledge on kraft pulping comes from studies on dissolved lignin in the freely drainable black liquor and isolated residual lignin in pulp. However, entrapped liquor in the delignified chips has been shown to differ significantly from the free liquor. The present study has compared three liquor fractions: free, lumen and fiber wall liquor. The free liquor was obtained by draining the delignified chips, the lumen liquor was separated by centrifugation and the fiber wall liquor by subsequent leaching. The liquor in the fiber wall had the lowest concentration of lignin and hydrosulfide ions and the highest concentration of monovalent cations. The dissolved lignin in the fiber wall liquor had the highest molar mass and the highest content of xylan. The highest concentration of dissolved lignin was in the liquor filling the lumen cavities. The lignin in the free liquor had the lowest molar mass and the lowest content of lignin structures containing β-O-4 linkages and aliphatic hydroxyl groups. The lowest mass transfer rate of dissolved lignin was from the lumen liquor to the free liquor probably restricted by the tortuosity of the chip. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional pulping processes, such as soda, soda‐Antraquinone (AQ), and kraft, are currently used for non‐wood pulping. The main challenges of non‐wood pulping in conventional pulping processes are (1) large amounts of silica cause silica‐related operational difficulties in the process; (2) large amounts of fines/parenchyma cells decrease the drainage; and (3) the bulky nature of raw materials increases the collection/transportation cost, hampering large‐scale commercial operations. Alternative pulping processes are therefore being developed. This paper reviews the current status of alternative non‐wood pulping processes and their integration with the biorefinery concept. Several promising methods have been investigated at the laboratory or pilot scale. Organic acid and potassium hydroxide pulping processes are attractive alternatives for non‐wood pulping. Dissolved lignin and hemicelluloses in spent liquor can lead to the production of valuable co‐products, fitting well with the integrated biorefinery concept. Non‐wood biomass can be important raw material for pulping in forest‐deficient countries. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hot ethanol–water solutions can be used to simultaneously fractionate and purify softwood Kraft lignin through the Aqueous Lignin Purification with Hot Agents (ALPHA) process, using the regions of liquid–liquid equilibrium (LLE) that form at selected temperatures and solvent‐to‐lignin feed (S/F) ratios. Lignin, ethanol, and water compositions are measured for the solvent‐rich (SR) and lignin‐rich (LR) liquid phases in mutual equilibrium, as well as the lignin and metals mass distributions between the two phases. As depicted in quasi‐ternary diagrams for clarity, both temperature and S/F ratio can be used to grow, merge, and even split the regions of LLE, giving significant control over both molecular weight (MW) and lignin purity. For example, a solvent comprising 45:55 EtOH/H2O at 75 °C and an S/F ratio of 6:1 enables recovery of an ultrapure (95 % of Na removed), higher MW (Mn=8400 Da) lignin fraction in the LR phase. On the other hand, 95:5 EtOH/H2O at 45 °C and S/F=3:1 enables recovery of an ultrapure, low MW (1500 Da) lignin in the SR phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A mild lignin‐first acidolysis process (140 °C, 40 min) was developed using the benign solvent dimethyl carbonate (DMC) and ethylene glycol (EG) as a stabilization agent/solvent to produce a high yield of aromatic monophenols directly from softwood lignocellulose (pine, spruce, cedar, and Douglas fir) with a depolymerization efficiency of 77–98 %. Under the optimized conditions (140 °C, 40 min, 400 wt % EG and 2 wt % H2SO4 to pinewood), up to 9 wt % of the aromatic monophenol was produced, reaching a degree of delignification in pinewood of 77 %. Cellulose was also preserved, as evidenced by a 85 % glucose yield after enzymatic digestion. An in‐depth analysis of the depolymerization oil was conducted by using GC‐MS, HPLC, 2 D‐NMR, and size‐exclusion chromatography, which provided structural insights into lignin‐derived dimers and oligomers and the composition of the sugars and derived molecules. Mass balance evaluation was performed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Softwood lignin consists mainly of guaiacyl (G) units and low amounts of hydroxyphenyl (H) units. Even in a small percentage, the ratio of H to G (H/G) and the intraspecific variation are crucial wood lignin properties. Analytical pyrolysis (Py) was already successfully used as a reference method to develop a model based on near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy for the determination of the H/G ratio on Pinus pinaster (Pnb) wood samples. The predicted values of the Pinus sylvestris (Psyl) samples by this model were well correlated (R = 0.91) with the reference data (Py), but with a bias that increased with increasing H/G ratio. Partial least squares regression (PLS-R) models were developed for the prediction of the H/G ratio, dedicated models for Psyl wood samples and common models based on both species (Pnb and Psyl). All the calibration models showed a high coefficient of determination and low errors. The coefficient of determination of the external validation of the dedicated models ranged from 0.92 to 0.96 and for the common models ranged from 0.83 to 0.93. However, the comparison of the predictive ability of the dedicated and common models using the Psyl external validation set showed almost identical predicted values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To achieve efficient utilization of compression wood (CW), a deeper insight into the molecular interactions is necessary. In particular, the role of lignin in the wood needs to be better understood, especially concerning how lignin contributes to its mechanical properties. For this reason, the properties of CW and normal wood (NW) from Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) have been studied on a molecular scale by means of polarized Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, under both static and dynamic loading conditions. Under static tensile loading, only molecular deformations of cellulose were observed in both CW and NW. No participation of lignin could be detected. In relation to the macroscopic strain, the molecular deformation of the cellulose C-O-C bond was greater in NW than in CW as a reflection of the higher microfibril angle and the lower load taken up by CW. Under dynamic deformation, a larger contribution of the lignin to stress transfer was detected in CW; the molecular deformation of the lignin being highly related to the amplitude of the applied stress. Correlation analysis indicated that there was a direct coupling between lignin and cellulose in CW, but there was no evidence of such a direct coupling in NW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Along with cellulose, lignin is one of the most common polymers of plant origin. Numerous studies show that the complex and irregular structure of lignin is still unknown. First of all, the existing problems are connected with the peculiarities of lignins as a natural chemical compound. In this paper the general regularities of the chemical structure of dioxane lignins isolated from the softwood – larch (Lárix sibírica), pine (Pinus cembra) and juniper (Juníperus commúnis). The studies were carried out using a combination of 13C, 31P and 2D NMR spectroscopy. According to HSQC spectra it was established that the main structural fragments are the structures of β-aryl ether, followed by phenylcoumarans, with lower amounts of other substructures. Signals belonging to a methyl substituted phenylcoumaron were first identified on the NMR spectra of softwood dioxane lignins. Signals related to the structure of 3′-O-methylated dihydroquercetin were found in the composition of larch dioxane lignin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lignin is a by-product of the pulp and paper industry that can be precipitated by acidification from black liquor as a potential feedstock for valuable green materials. Precipitation and quantification of lignin from softwood black liquors have been documented and commercialized with well-established methods; however, applying those methods to the precipitation of lignin from hardwood black liquors has produced low lignin yields. A need to understand the main differences between hardwood and softwood lignin precipitation prompted the current investigation. Multiple black liquor samples from sweetgum and pine pulping were obtained at different times of standard kraft cooks. Two lignin fractions were precipitated from each of these black liquors, one at pH 9.5 and one at pH 2.5. Detailed lignin and carbohydrate material balances were performed around each of the sample sets, starting with the wood and ending with precipitated lignin fractions. For all conditions tested, the amount and purity of pine lignin precipitated were superior to sweetgum lignin. The maximum recovery for sweetgum lignin was 69.7%, while for pine lignin, it was 90.9%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) is an important industrial nanocellulose product and material component. New MFC grades can widen the materials property range and improve product tailoring. Microfibrillated lignocellulose (MFLC) is investigated, with the hypothesis that there is an optimum in lignin content of unbleached wood pulp fibre with respect to nanofibril yield. A series of kraft fibres with falling Kappa numbers (lower lignin content) was prepared. Fibres were beaten and fibrillated into MFLC by high-pressure microfluidization. Nano-sized fractions of fibrils were separated using centrifugation. Lignin content and carbohydrate analysis, total charge, FE-SEM, TEM microscopy and suspension rheology characterization were carried out. Fibres with Kappa number 65 (11% lignin) combined high lignin content with ease of fibrillation. This confirms an optimum in nanofibril yield as a function of lignin content, and mechanisms are discussed. MFLC from these fibres contained a 40–60 wt% fraction of nano-sized fibrils with widths in the range of 2.5–70 nm. Despite the large size distribution, data for modulus and tensile strength of MFLC films with 11% lignin were as high as 14 GPa and 240 MPa. MFLC films showed improved water contact angle of 84–88°, compared to neat MFC films (< 50°). All MFLC films showed substantial optical transmittance, and the fraction of haze scattering strongly correlated with defect content in the form of coarse fibrils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last few years, a serious effort has been initiated to develop standard methods for lignin characterization at the national and international levels. Thus, several Canadian and ISO standards were recently developed. The current results were generated in an effort to assist the ISO/TC6 Committee come up with a reliable standard method for the measurement of the dry solids content of lignins. In particular, this work investigated the drying of lignin using three different drying methods: conduction oven drying (105 °C), vacuum oven drying at (60 °C), and freeze drying. Ten different lignins were used in this study including wet and air-dried softwood and hardwood kraft lignins in the acid and base forms from the industrial LignoForce™ process and hydrolysis lignin from the TMP-Bio™ process. The results showed that 7 h, 48 h and 24 h were sufficient to reach a constant solids content in the case of all lignins when oven drying, vacuum oven drying under negative pressure (150 mbar), and freeze drying (25 mT) were used, respectively. Kraft lignins in the base form showed higher sensitivity to degradation compared to lignins in the acid form. The total hydroxyl group content of air-dried and wet hardwood lignins in the base form decreased by more than 50 % after vacuum oven-drying for 71.5 h or oven-drying for 16 h compared to freeze-drying for 68 h. The decrease in the total hydroxyl groups was more pronounced (70 %) when the wet softwood lignin in the base form was dried in the oven compared to freeze drying for 68 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite being the most abundant renewable resource in Estonia, wood has not been fully utilized for its potential value. To fully harness its potential, wood needs to be processed to its core components, such as fibers, wood sugars, and lignin, using chemical, thermochemical, or enzymatic methods. Researchers at TalTech are working on developing a comprehensive value chain for wood valorization, encompassing the production of food additives, thermoplastics, coating materials, and fine chemicals. Traditionally, lignin, a byproduct of the wood fractionation, was burned for energy. However, TalTech researchers are now using lignin to create novel thermoplastics, catalytic materials, and fine chemicals via fermentation processes. Here we show that the conversion of lignin into novel functional materials can be tailored by selecting appropriate extraction methods and source biomass. For instance, organosolv lignin extracted from barley straw exhibits the largest BET active surface area for lignin-based aerogels compared to those produced from softwood or hardwood organosolv lignins. Additionally, we showcase the potential of actinobacterial enzymes to detoxify phenol-containing wood sugar solutions, enabling their utilization in fermentation processes involving a wider array of microbial species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The woody secondary cell walls of plants are the largest repository of renewable carbon biopolymers on the planet. These walls are made principally from cellulose and hemicelluloses and are impregnated with lignin. Despite their importance as the main load bearing structure for plant growth, as well as their industrial importance as both a material and energy source, the precise arrangement of these constituents within the cell wall is not yet fully understood. We have adapted low temperature scanning electron microscopy (cryo-SEM) for imaging the nanoscale architecture of angiosperm and gymnosperm cell walls in their native hydrated state. Our work confirms that cell wall macrofibrils, cylindrical structures with a diameter exceeding 10 nm, are a common feature of the native hardwood and softwood samples. We have observed these same structures in Arabidopsis thaliana secondary cell walls, enabling macrofibrils to be compared between mutant lines that are perturbed in cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin formation. Our analysis indicates that the macrofibrils in Arabidopsis cell walls are dependent upon the proper biosynthesis, or composed, of cellulose, xylan, and lignin. This study establishes that cryo-SEM is a useful additional approach for investigating the native nanoscale architecture and composition of hardwood and softwood secondary cell walls and demonstrates the applicability of Arabidopsis genetic resources to relate fibril structure with wall composition and biosynthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lignin, a component of the cell walls of plants and the second most abundant biopolymer has long been regarded as disturbing substance in pulp production by paper industry. This view has changed in recent decades. Thus, lignin is increasingly regarded as an alternative to crude oil. Tuned and modified lignins have suitable properties to use them as building blocks for various applications as well as for the production of basic chemicals. By modifying lignin, its reactivity and uniformity can be increased. In addition, properties of the lignin can be changed and influenced by selective modification. By a solvent-free modification with dihydroxybenzene, aliphatic OH groups of the lignin side chain can be removed and covalent C C bonds to the aromatics can be formed. At the same time, aryl-alkyl ether cleavage occurs, which reduces the molecular weight of lignin by about one third. In addition, ongoing reactions result in the reduction in the molecular weight distribution. All this leads to a more uniform and reactive lignin which is interesting as a precursor for various applications. This work provides a deeper understanding of ongoing reactions with dihydroxybenzenes and the structure of modified lignins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Main conclusion: Glucomannan was more strongly oriented, in line with the orientation of cellulose, than the xylan in both compression wood and normal wood of Chinese fir. Lignin in compression wood was somewhat more oriented in the direction of the cellulose microfibrils than in normal wood. The structural organization in compression wood (CW) is quite different from that in normal wood (NW). To shed more light on the structural organization of the polymers in plant cell walls, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) microscopy in transmission mode has been used to compare the S2-dominated mean orientation of wood polymers in CW with that in NW from Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata). Polarized FTIR measurements revealed that in both CW and NW samples, glucomannan and xylan showed a parallel orientation with respect to the cellulose microfibrils. In both wood samples, the glucomannan showed a much greater degree of orientation than the xylan, indicating that the glucomannan has established a stronger interaction with cellulose than xylan. For the lignin, the absorption peak also indicated an orientation along the direction of the cellulose microfibrils, but this orientation was more pronounced in CW than in NW, indicating that the lignin is affected by the orientation of the cellulose microfibrils more strongly in CW than it is in NW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: 1. The utilization of so-called low-input crops (i.e., Miscanthus grasses and fast-growing trees) as lignocellulosic feedstock for second generation biorefineries. 2. Lignin and lignin-derived materials as agrochemical products. 3. Chemometric methods to be used for fast and efficient lignocellulose feedstock (LCF) quality control. Lignocellulose feedstock (LCF) provides a sustainable source of components to produce bioenergy, biofuel, and novel biomaterials. Besides hard and soft wood, so-called low-input plants such as Miscanthus are interesting crops to be investigated as potential feedstock for the second generation biorefinery. The status quo regarding the availability and composition of different plants, including grasses and fast-growing trees (i.e., Miscanthus, Paulownia), is reviewed here. The second focus of this review is the potential of multivariate data processing to be used for biomass analysis and quality control. Experimental data obtained by spectroscopic methods, such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), can be processed using computational techniques to characterize the 3D structure and energetic properties of the feedstock building blocks, including complex linkages. Here, we provide a brief summary of recently reported experimental data for structural analysis of LCF biomasses, and give our perspectives on the role of chemometrics in understanding and elucidating on LCF composition and lignin 3D structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]