Technical Lignin Valorization in Biodegradable Polyester-Based Plastics (BPPs)

Lignin, the term commonly used in literature, represents a group of heterogeneous aromatic compounds of plant origin. Protolignin or lignin in the cell wall is entirely different from the commercially available technical lignin due to changes during the delignification process. In this paper, we assess the status of lignin valorization in terms of commercial products. We start with existing knowledge of the lignin/protolignin structure in its native form and move to the technical lignin from various sources. Special attention is given to the patents and lignin-based commercial products. We observed that the technical lignin-based commercial products utilize coarse properties of the technical lignin in marketed formulations. Additionally, the general principles of polymers chemistry and self-assembly are difficult to apply in lignin-based nanotechnology, and lignin-centric investigations must be carried out. The alternate upcoming approach is to develop lignin-centric or lignin first bio-refineries for high-value applications; however, that brings its own technological challenges. The assessment of the gap between lab-scale applications and lignin-based commercial products delineates the challenges lignin nanoparticles-based technologies must meet to be a commercially viable alternative.

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Biodegradable polyester neuroprostheses promote the reconnection of separated peripheral nerve stubs

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100130109 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 50 (2) ◽

pp. 1094-1095

Author(s):

Beverly L. Giammara ◽

Jennifer S. Stevenson ◽

Peggy E. Yates ◽

Robert H. Gunderson ◽

Jacob S. Hanker

Keyword(s):

Image Analysis ◽

Basement Membrane ◽

Periodic Acid ◽

Light And Electron Microscopy ◽

Computer Assisted ◽

Type Iii Collagen ◽

Image Analysis System ◽

Biodegradable Polyester ◽

Adult Rats ◽

Type Iv

An 11mm length of sciatic nerve was removed from 10 anesthetized adult rats and replaced by a biodegradable polyester Vicryl™ mesh sleeve which was then injected with the basement membrane gel, Matrigel™. It was noted that leg sensation and movement were much improved after 30 to 45 days and upon sacrifice nerve reconnection was noted in all animals. Epoxy sections of the repaired nerves were compared with those of the excised segments by the use of a variation of the PAS reaction, the PATS reaction, developed in our laboratories for light and electron microscopy. This microwave-accelerated technique employs periodic acid, thiocarbohydrazide and silver methenamine. It stains basement membrane or Type IV collagen brown and type III collagen (reticulin), axons, Schwann cells, endoneurium and perineurium black. Epoxy sections of repaired and excised nerves were also compared by toluidine blue (tb) staining. Comparison of the sections of control and repaired nerves was done by computer-assisted microscopic image analysis using an Olympus CUE-2 Image Analysis System.

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Lignin Valorization

10.1039/9781788010351 ◽

2018 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Keyword(s):

Lignin Valorization

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Effect of Moisture Content on the Processing and Mechanical Properties of a Biodegradable Polyester

Polymers ◽

10.3390/polym13101616 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (10) ◽

pp. 1616

Author(s):

Vincenzo Titone ◽

Antonio Correnti ◽

Francesco Paolo La Mantia

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Properties ◽

Tensile Strength ◽

Moisture Content ◽

Mechanical Testing ◽

Hydrolytic Degradation ◽

Slight Reduction ◽

Biodegradable Polyester ◽

Molding Process ◽

Elongation At Break ◽

Effect Of Moisture

This work is focused on the influence of moisture content on the processing and mechanical properties of a biodegradable polyester used for applications in injection molding. The pellets of the biodegradable polyester were exposed under different relative humidity conditions at a constant temperature before being compression molded. The compression-molded specimens were again placed under the above conditions before the mechanical testing. With all these samples, it is possible to determine the effect of moisture content on the processing and mechanical properties separately, as well as the combined effect of moisture content on the mechanical properties. The results obtained showed that the amount of absorbed water—both before processing and before mechanical testing—causes an increase in elongation at break and a slight reduction of the elastic modulus and tensile strength. These changes have been associated with possible hydrolytic degradation during the compression molding process and, in particular, with the plasticizing action of the moisture absorbed by the specimens.

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A facile ionic liquid and p-toluenesulfonic acid pretreatment of herb residues: enzymatic hydrolysis and lignin valorization

Chemical Engineering Journal ◽

10.1016/j.cej.2021.129616 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 129616

Author(s):

Hao-Lin Wei ◽

Jie Bu ◽

Shi-Shui Zhou ◽

Mao-Cheng Deng ◽

Ming-Jun Zhu

Keyword(s):

Ionic Liquid ◽

Enzymatic Hydrolysis ◽

Acid Pretreatment ◽

Lignin Valorization ◽

Toluenesulfonic Acid ◽

Herb Residues

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Transforming biorefinery designs with ‘Plug-In Processes of Lignin’ to enable economic waste valorization

Nature Communications ◽

10.1038/s41467-021-23920-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Zhi-Hua Liu ◽

Naijia Hao ◽

Yun-Yan Wang ◽

Chang Dou ◽

Furong Lin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cellulosic Ethanol ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Substantial Improvement ◽

Selling Price ◽

Waste Valorization ◽

Lignin Valorization ◽

Capital Costs ◽

Carbon Efficiency ◽

Synergistic Enhancement ◽

Total Capital

AbstractBiological lignin valorization has emerged as a major solution for sustainable and cost-effective biorefineries. However, current biorefineries yield lignin with inadequate fractionation for bioconversion, yet substantial changes of these biorefinery designs to focus on lignin could jeopardize carbohydrate efficiency and increase capital costs. We resolve the dilemma by designing ‘plug-in processes of lignin’ with the integration of leading pretreatment technologies. Substantial improvement of lignin bioconversion and synergistic enhancement of carbohydrate processing are achieved by solubilizing lignin via lowering molecular weight and increasing hydrophilic groups, addressing the dilemma of lignin- or carbohydrate-first scenarios. The plug-in processes of lignin could enable minimum polyhydroxyalkanoate selling price at as low as $6.18/kg. The results highlight the potential to achieve commercial production of polyhydroxyalkanoates as a co-product of cellulosic ethanol. Here, we show that the plug-in processes of lignin could transform biorefinery design toward sustainability by promoting carbon efficiency and optimizing the total capital cost.

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Fungal Treatment for the Valorization of Technical Soda Lignin

Journal of Fungi ◽

10.3390/jof7010039 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. 39

Author(s):

Mariane Daou ◽

Clementina Farfan Soto ◽

Amel Majira ◽

Laurent Cézard ◽

Betty Cottyn ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Filamentous Fungi ◽

Structural Changes ◽

Molar Mass ◽

Glycoside Hydrolases ◽

Fungal Treatment ◽

Industrial Transformation ◽

Pycnoporus Sanguineus ◽

Technical Lignin ◽

Soda Lignin ◽

Technical Lignins

Technical lignins produced as a by-product in biorefinery processes represent a potential source of renewable carbon. In consideration of the possibilities of the industrial transformation of this substrate into various valuable bio-based molecules, the biological deconstruction of a technical soda lignin by filamentous fungi was investigated. The ability of three basidiomycetes (Polyporus brumalis, Pycnoporus sanguineus and Leiotrametes menziesii) to modify this material, the resultant structural and chemical changes, and the secreted proteins during growth on this substrate were investigated. The three fungi could grow on the technical lignin alone, and the growth rate increased when the media were supplemented with glucose or maltose. The proteomic analysis of the culture supernatants after three days of growth revealed the secretion of numerous Carbohydrate-Active Enzymes (CAZymes). The secretomic profiles varied widely between the strains and the presence of technical lignin alone triggered the early secretion of many lignin-acting oxidoreductases. The secretomes were notably rich in glycoside hydrolases and H2O2-producing auxiliary activity enzymes with copper radical oxidases being induced on lignin for all strains. The lignin treatment by fungi modified both the soluble and insoluble lignin fractions. A significant decrease in the amount of soluble higher molar mass compounds was observed in the case of P. sanguineus. This strain was also responsible for the modification of the lower molar mass compounds of the lignin insoluble fraction and a 40% decrease in the thioacidolysis yield. The similarity in the activities of P. sanguineus and P. brumalis in modifying the functional groups of the technical lignin were observed, the results suggest that the lignin has undergone structural changes, or at least changes in its composition, and pave the route for the utilization of filamentous fungi to functionalize technical lignins and produce the enzymes of interest for biorefinery applications.

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