Lignin-Silicon Electrode Material from High-Lignin Content Endocarp Biomass

The overall goal of this project is to establish a strategy of high-value coproduct to enable cost- competitive biofuels and chemicals from a biorefinery of lignocellulosic biomass. Many technology pathways can be used to produce biofuels such as bioethanol and drop-in hydrocarbon biofuels, but they all would require the value-added coproducts to enhance the economics of biofuels in the near-term. Such pathways capitalize on revenue from coproducts as part of a strategy for producing cost-competitive biofuels. Here we aim to investigate and establish an integrated chemical and biological pathway to co-produce high-value coproducts from undervalued lignin streams in the biofuel production processes from drupe endocarp biomass. Specifically, we will develop a novel lignin-silicon (Lig-Si) based electrode materials with high capacity, durable, and low-cost for lithium-ion batteries. We will define and characterize lignin in drupe endocarp tissues in spatially diverse regions and in different genotypes of target crops (peach and walnut). We will also develop a novel deep eutectic solvent (DES) based conversion process to fractionate lignin and cellulose portion from the endocarp biomass and subsequently convert the lignin streams for energy storage applications.