Abstract

Lignin, a major component of lignocellulose, is the largest source of aromatic building blocks on the planet and harbors great potential to serve as starting material for the production of biobased products. Despite the initial challenges associated with the robust and irregular structure of lignin, the valorization of this intriguing aromatic biopolymer has come a long way: recently, many creative strategies emerged that deliver defined products via catalytic or biocatalytic depolymerization in good yields. The purpose of this review is to provide insight into these novel approaches and the potential application of such emerging new structures for the synthesis of biobased polymers or pharmacologically active molecules. Existing strategies for functionalization or defunctionalization of lignin-based compounds are also summarized. Following the whole value chain from raw lignocellulose through depolymerization to application whenever possible, specific lignin-based compounds emerge that could be in the future considered as potential lignin-derived platform chemicals.

Keywords

DepolymerizationLigninBiopolymerChemistryRaw materialOrganic chemistryBiochemical engineeringPolymerPolymer scienceNanotechnologyMaterials scienceEngineering

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Publication Info

Year
2018
Type
review
Volume
118
Issue
2
Pages
614-678
Citations
1982
Access
Closed

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Cite This

Zhuohua Sun, Bálint Fridrich, Alessandra De Santi et al. (2018). Bright Side of Lignin Depolymerization: Toward New Platform Chemicals. Chemical Reviews , 118 (2) , 614-678. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemrev.7b00588

Identifiers

DOI
10.1021/acs.chemrev.7b00588
PMID
29337543
PMCID
PMC5785760

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Data completeness: 86%