Issue 3, 2016

A sustainable approach for lignin valorization by heterogeneous photocatalysis

Abstract

The depletion of the Earth's fossil fuel reserves and the rapid increase in the emission of greenhouse gases and other environmental pollutants are driving the development of renewable energy technologies. Lignin is one of the three main subcomponents of lignocellulosic biomass in terrestrial ecosystems and makes up nearly 30% of the organic carbon sequestered in the biosphere. As a result of its rich content of aromatic carbon, lignin has the potential to be decomposed to yield valuable chemicals and alternatives to fossil fuels. However, the complex and stable chemical bonds of lignin make the depolymerization of lignin a difficult challenge with regard to its valorization. In this review, we highlight recent advances in the selective decomposition of lignin-based compounds via photocatalysis into other value-added chemicals and the treatment of waste water containing lignin. The photocatalytic transformation of lignin under mild conditions is particularly promising.

Graphical abstract: A sustainable approach for lignin valorization by heterogeneous photocatalysis

Article information

Article type
Critical Review
Submitted
07 Sep 2015
Accepted
28 Oct 2015
First published
30 Oct 2015

Green Chem., 2016,18, 594-607

A sustainable approach for lignin valorization by heterogeneous photocatalysis

S. Li, S. Liu, J. C. Colmenares and Y. Xu, Green Chem., 2016, 18, 594 DOI: 10.1039/C5GC02109J

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