Complete conversion of enzymatic hydrolysis lignin to liquid fuels in fuel compatible solvents

Lignin is one of the three components of lignocellulose which servs as the major material composing the cell walls and making up the integrity of the green plants in biosphere. Lignocellulose has been chemically utilized to produce paper in the pulp industry, and in the recent decade, lignocellulose has been intensively investigated as the feedstock of the 2-generation (2G) biofuel production. The fermentation of cellulose to bioethanol has achieved a high energy efficiency but lignin is still a major burden for the commercialization of 2G biofuel industry. Lignin and its derivatives have negative effects on the activity of microbials in fermentation. More importantly, lignin contains 20-50% energy of the lignocellulose. Therefore, its complete conversion to liquid fuel blends in the 2G biofuel industry would greatly improve the energy efficiency and economical output of the 2G plant.
With the support of EU EHLCATHOL project, we proposed an efficient strategy for the complete conversion of enzymatic hydrolysis lignin to fuel blends based on catalytic solvolysis in fuel compatible solvents. To achieve the goal of complete conversion, both the solvents and catalysts are key factors. With optimization of the catalysts, solvents and process parameters, we achieved this goal with high efficiency. This seminar will give some details of the steps involved.