Overview
ABSTRACT
Lignin is a key biopolymer in plant structure because it provides a chemical barrier to protect the other parietal polymers. This resistance to biotic and abiotic elements explains the difficulty of obtaining lignin in the native state, which for a long time has limited its material valorization and promoted the energy production. The development of the lignocellulosic biorefinery will provide a large volume of lignin whose transformation into basic synthons such as phenolic molecules or materials becomes critical to consolidate these processes. In this article, the most promising ways of valorization will be described.
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Read the articleAUTHORS
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Alex RAKOTOVELO : Doctorate in polymer chemistry from Bordeaux University - Organic Polymer Chemistry Laboratory, UMR CNRS 5629 - École Nationale Supérieure de Chimie, de Biologie et de Physique de Bordeaux (ENSCBP), Pessac, France
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Frédéric PERUCH : Doctorate in polymer chemistry from Bordeaux University - Organic Polymer Chemistry Laboratory, UMR CNRS 5629 - École Nationale Supérieure de Chimie, de Biologie et de Physique de Bordeaux (ENSCBP), Pessac, France
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Stéphane GRELIER : University Professor - Doctorate in polymer chemistry from Bordeaux University - Organic Polymer Chemistry Laboratory, UMR CNRS 5629 - École Nationale Supérieure de Chimie, de Biologie et de Physique de Bordeaux (ENSCBP), Pessac, France
INTRODUCTION
Of all natural polymers, lignin is surely the most emblematic of the plant kingdom. Its biosynthesis and structure have long remained poorly understood, due to its resistance to chemical and biological agents. Nevertheless, research into lignin has intensified since the beginning of the third millennium, with the aim of improving paper-making processes and, above all, preparing the biorefinery that is set to overtake petrochemicals before the end of the century. xxi e century. The conversion of cellulose and hemicelluloses into simple sugars (C5 and C6) for the production of fuels or chemical precursors has now been mastered and industrial deployment has begun. While several million tonnes of lignin from the paper industry and bioethanol plants could be obtained and exploited each year (10-20% of the lignin generated), only a tiny fraction is currently recovered. A better understanding of lignin's chemical structure has enabled us to propose high-performance processes for separating it from polysaccharides. At the same time, adapting its biosynthesis using biotechnology tools will make it possible to offer plants that are better suited to the industrial processes used by biorefineries and in line with the principles of sustainable chemistry. This article first presents the main characteristics of lignin, followed by the different extraction processes from plant biomass. The different lignin recovery routes are described and discussed, with a particular focus on the enzymatic route, as this has the advantage of fully complying with the principles of green chemistry.
Area. Biomass chemistry
Degree of technology diffusion. Growth
Fields of application. Biorefinery. Biobased polymers
Main French players :
competitiveness clusters: Xylofutur, IAR, AXELERA
centers of expertise: Université de Bordeaux, INP Grenoble, Université de Lorraine, FCBA
manufacturers: Rayonier AM, SMURFIT-KAPPA, TEMBEC
Other players worldwide :
All industrialized countries have several centers of expertise, and the listing is likely to be long and incomplete. Lignin chemistry, which is part of biomass chemistry, is applied to varying degrees in a large number of chemistry departments, particularly organic chemistry.
Other industrial players include Solvay and Rayonier Advanced Materials.
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KEYWORDS
lignin | phenols | biorefinery | biomass deconstruction
Lignin : Structure, Production and Chemical Valorisation
Origin of lignin
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