Lignin valorization: Improving lignin processing in the biorefinery

Arthur J. Ragauskas; Gregg T. Beckham; Mary J. Biddy; Richard Chandra; Fang Chen; Mark F. Davis; Brian H. Davison; Richard A. Dixon; Paul Gilna; Martin Keller; Paul Langan; Amit K. Naskar; Jack N. Saddler; Timothy J. Tschaplinski; Gerald A. Tuskan; Charles E. Wyman

doi:10.1126/science.1246843

Lignin valorization: Improving lignin processing in the biorefinery

Arthur J. Ragauskas, Gregg T. Beckham, Mary J. Biddy, Richard Chandra, Fang Chen, Mark F. Davis, Brian H. Davison, Richard A. Dixon, Paul Gilna, Martin Keller, Paul Langan, Amit K. Naskar, Jack N. Saddler, Timothy J. Tschaplinski, Gerald A. Tuskan, Charles E. Wyman

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

3092 Scopus citations

Abstract

Research and development activities directed toward commercial production of cellulosic ethanol have created the opportunity to dramatically increase the transformation of lignin to value-added products. Here, we highlight recent advances in this lignin valorization effort. Discovery of genetic variants in native populations of bioenergy crops and direct manipulation of biosynthesis pathways have produced lignin feedstocks with favorable properties for recovery and downstream conversion. Advances in analytical chemistry and computational modeling detail the structure of the modified lignin and direct bioengineering strategies for future targeted properties. Refinement of biomass pretreatment technologies has further facilitated lignin recovery, and this coupled with genetic engineering will enable new uses for this biopolymer, including low-cost carbon fibers, engineered plastics and thermoplastic elastomers, polymeric foams, fungible fuels, and commodity chemicals.

Original language	English
Article number	1246843
Journal	Science
Volume	344
Issue number	6185
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1246843
State	Published - 2014

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10.1126/science.1246843

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Ragauskas, A. J., Beckham, G. T., Biddy, M. J., Chandra, R., Chen, F., Davis, M. F., Davison, B. H., Dixon, R. A., Gilna, P., Keller, M., Langan, P., Naskar, A. K., Saddler, J. N., Tschaplinski, T. J., Tuskan, G. A., & Wyman, C. E. (2014). Lignin valorization: Improving lignin processing in the biorefinery. Science, 344(6185), Article 1246843. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1246843

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title = "Lignin valorization: Improving lignin processing in the biorefinery",

abstract = "Research and development activities directed toward commercial production of cellulosic ethanol have created the opportunity to dramatically increase the transformation of lignin to value-added products. Here, we highlight recent advances in this lignin valorization effort. Discovery of genetic variants in native populations of bioenergy crops and direct manipulation of biosynthesis pathways have produced lignin feedstocks with favorable properties for recovery and downstream conversion. Advances in analytical chemistry and computational modeling detail the structure of the modified lignin and direct bioengineering strategies for future targeted properties. Refinement of biomass pretreatment technologies has further facilitated lignin recovery, and this coupled with genetic engineering will enable new uses for this biopolymer, including low-cost carbon fibers, engineered plastics and thermoplastic elastomers, polymeric foams, fungible fuels, and commodity chemicals.",

author = "Ragauskas, {Arthur J.} and Beckham, {Gregg T.} and Biddy, {Mary J.} and Richard Chandra and Fang Chen and Davis, {Mark F.} and Davison, {Brian H.} and Dixon, {Richard A.} and Paul Gilna and Martin Keller and Paul Langan and Naskar, {Amit K.} and Saddler, {Jack N.} and Tschaplinski, {Timothy J.} and Tuskan, {Gerald A.} and Wyman, {Charles E.}",

year = "2014",

doi = "10.1126/science.1246843",

language = "English",

volume = "344",

journal = "Science",

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T2 - Improving lignin processing in the biorefinery

AU - Ragauskas, Arthur J.

AU - Beckham, Gregg T.

AU - Biddy, Mary J.

AU - Chandra, Richard

AU - Chen, Fang

AU - Davis, Mark F.

AU - Davison, Brian H.

AU - Dixon, Richard A.

AU - Gilna, Paul

AU - Keller, Martin

AU - Langan, Paul

AU - Naskar, Amit K.

AU - Saddler, Jack N.

AU - Tschaplinski, Timothy J.

AU - Tuskan, Gerald A.

AU - Wyman, Charles E.

PY - 2014

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AB - Research and development activities directed toward commercial production of cellulosic ethanol have created the opportunity to dramatically increase the transformation of lignin to value-added products. Here, we highlight recent advances in this lignin valorization effort. Discovery of genetic variants in native populations of bioenergy crops and direct manipulation of biosynthesis pathways have produced lignin feedstocks with favorable properties for recovery and downstream conversion. Advances in analytical chemistry and computational modeling detail the structure of the modified lignin and direct bioengineering strategies for future targeted properties. Refinement of biomass pretreatment technologies has further facilitated lignin recovery, and this coupled with genetic engineering will enable new uses for this biopolymer, including low-cost carbon fibers, engineered plastics and thermoplastic elastomers, polymeric foams, fungible fuels, and commodity chemicals.

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VL - 344

JO - Science

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IS - 6185

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Lignin valorization: Improving lignin processing in the biorefinery

Abstract

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