Lignin depolymerization is playing a pivotal role in transforming the second most abundant biopolymers in nature into many valuable chemicals/fuels. This route could directly replace their petrol ...

The lignin-like oligomers have several potential advantages over existing small molecule UV blockers that are used to stabilize plastics and in sunscreens, Ramalingam says.

Chestnut Hill, Mass (2/21/2023) – Lignin is arguably the most abundant component of biomass that most people have never heard of. That may be about to change. Many people are familiar with its ...

(b) Mechanisms of hydrogen-atom transfer to break the β-O-4 motif, which is abundant in native lignin. (c) Overview of our strategy to first depolymerize native lignin and then repolymerize the ...

Lignin nanoparticles (LNPs) have emerged as promising candidates for enhancing sun protection in cosmetics, offering superior UV-blocking capabilities compared to soluble lignin oligomers. However ...

We developed a catalyst that can selectively break down specific chemical bonds in lignin when it is exposed to light, such that the lignin is converted into intermediate-sized, soluble molecules ...

The team built a computational model of a biorefinery based on these processes and calculated that 1,000 kg of wood would produce 653 kg of carbohydrate pulp, 64 kg of lignin oligomers, 42 kg of ...

Lignin produced using the new method was color-neutral, odorless and homogenous, an advance that could make this carbon-neutral material a more viable candidate for development of high-value products.

Lignin, a renewable byproduct in the paper and biorefinery industries, has gained attention for its inherent antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, which are essential for promoting wound healing.

But the same processes produce 50 million tons of lignin annually, industry experts estimate. Once distilled, 98 percent of the inky liquid is burned to produce electricity. Scientists have been ...