Engineering plant biomass lignin content and composition for biofuels and bioproducts

Cassie Marie Welker; Vimal Kumar Balasubramanian; Carloalberto Petti; Krishan Mohan Rai; Seth De Bolt; Venugopal Mendu

doi:10.3390/en8087654

Engineering plant biomass lignin content and composition for biofuels and bioproducts

Cassie Marie Welker
, Vimal Kumar Balasubramanian
, Carloalberto Petti
, Krishan Mohan Rai
, Seth De Bolt
, Venugopal Mendu

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

194 Scopus citations

Abstract

Lignin is an aromatic biopolymer involved in providing structural support to plant cell walls. Compared to the other cell wall polymers, i.e., cellulose and hemicelluloses, lignin has been considered a hindrance in cellulosic bioethanol production due to the complexity involved in its separation from other polymers of various biomass feedstocks. Nevertheless, lignin is a potential source of valuable aromatic chemical compounds and upgradable building blocks. Though the biosynthetic pathway of lignin has been elucidated in great detail, the random nature of the polymerization (free radical coupling) process poses challenges for its depolymerization into valuable bioproducts. The absence of specific methodologies for lignin degradation represents an important opportunity for research and development. This review highlights research development in lignin biosynthesis, lignin genetic engineering and different biological and chemical means of depolymerization used to convert lignin into biofuels and bioproducts.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	7654-7676
Number of pages	23
Journal	Energies
Volume	8
Issue number	8
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3390/en8087654
State	Published - Aug 1 2015

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 by the authors.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy

Keywords

Degradation
Depolymerization
Genetic engineering
Hydrogenolysis
Lignin
Lignocellulose
Plant cell wall
Pyrolysis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
Fuel Technology
Engineering (miscellaneous)
Energy Engineering and Power Technology
Energy (miscellaneous)
Control and Optimization
Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Access to Document

10.3390/en8087654

Cite this

@article{3368f209e6f945d2b006ba8e23c3a218,

title = "Engineering plant biomass lignin content and composition for biofuels and bioproducts",

abstract = "Lignin is an aromatic biopolymer involved in providing structural support to plant cell walls. Compared to the other cell wall polymers, i.e., cellulose and hemicelluloses, lignin has been considered a hindrance in cellulosic bioethanol production due to the complexity involved in its separation from other polymers of various biomass feedstocks. Nevertheless, lignin is a potential source of valuable aromatic chemical compounds and upgradable building blocks. Though the biosynthetic pathway of lignin has been elucidated in great detail, the random nature of the polymerization (free radical coupling) process poses challenges for its depolymerization into valuable bioproducts. The absence of specific methodologies for lignin degradation represents an important opportunity for research and development. This review highlights research development in lignin biosynthesis, lignin genetic engineering and different biological and chemical means of depolymerization used to convert lignin into biofuels and bioproducts.",

keywords = "Degradation, Depolymerization, Genetic engineering, Hydrogenolysis, Lignin, Lignocellulose, Plant cell wall, Pyrolysis",

author = "Welker, \{Cassie Marie\} and Balasubramanian, \{Vimal Kumar\} and Carloalberto Petti and Rai, \{Krishan Mohan\} and \{De Bolt\}, Seth and Venugopal Mendu",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2015 by the authors.",

year = "2015",

month = aug,

day = "1",

doi = "10.3390/en8087654",

language = "English",

volume = "8",

pages = "7654--7676",

number = "8",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Engineering plant biomass lignin content and composition for biofuels and bioproducts

AU - Welker, Cassie Marie

AU - Balasubramanian, Vimal Kumar

AU - Petti, Carloalberto

AU - Rai, Krishan Mohan

AU - De Bolt, Seth

AU - Mendu, Venugopal

PY - 2015/8/1

Y1 - 2015/8/1

N2 - Lignin is an aromatic biopolymer involved in providing structural support to plant cell walls. Compared to the other cell wall polymers, i.e., cellulose and hemicelluloses, lignin has been considered a hindrance in cellulosic bioethanol production due to the complexity involved in its separation from other polymers of various biomass feedstocks. Nevertheless, lignin is a potential source of valuable aromatic chemical compounds and upgradable building blocks. Though the biosynthetic pathway of lignin has been elucidated in great detail, the random nature of the polymerization (free radical coupling) process poses challenges for its depolymerization into valuable bioproducts. The absence of specific methodologies for lignin degradation represents an important opportunity for research and development. This review highlights research development in lignin biosynthesis, lignin genetic engineering and different biological and chemical means of depolymerization used to convert lignin into biofuels and bioproducts.

AB - Lignin is an aromatic biopolymer involved in providing structural support to plant cell walls. Compared to the other cell wall polymers, i.e., cellulose and hemicelluloses, lignin has been considered a hindrance in cellulosic bioethanol production due to the complexity involved in its separation from other polymers of various biomass feedstocks. Nevertheless, lignin is a potential source of valuable aromatic chemical compounds and upgradable building blocks. Though the biosynthetic pathway of lignin has been elucidated in great detail, the random nature of the polymerization (free radical coupling) process poses challenges for its depolymerization into valuable bioproducts. The absence of specific methodologies for lignin degradation represents an important opportunity for research and development. This review highlights research development in lignin biosynthesis, lignin genetic engineering and different biological and chemical means of depolymerization used to convert lignin into biofuels and bioproducts.

KW - Degradation

KW - Depolymerization

KW - Genetic engineering

KW - Hydrogenolysis

KW - Lignin

KW - Lignocellulose

KW - Plant cell wall

KW - Pyrolysis

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/84941709921

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/84941709921#tab=citedBy

U2 - 10.3390/en8087654

DO - 10.3390/en8087654

M3 - Review article

AN - SCOPUS:84941709921

SN - 1996-1073

VL - 8

SP - 7654

EP - 7676

JO - Energies

JF - Energies

IS - 8

ER -

Engineering plant biomass lignin content and composition for biofuels and bioproducts

Abstract

Bibliographical note

UN SDGs

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this