Biorefinery of Lignin

Dear Colleagues,

Lignin is a plentiful, renewable, and under-utilized component of the lignocellulosic biomass and has gained considerable attention in recent years for producing fuel, chemicals, and materials. The global annual production of lignin of plant origin is estimated to be approximately 150 billion tons. In addition, the pulp and paper industries generate between 50 and 70 million tons of lignin per year. Lignin availability is projected to increase by 225 million tons per year by 2030.

About 95% of the global lignin output is combusted to create energy, and less than 5% is used for value-added applications. Lignin is an aromatic rich biopolymeric molecule with a variety of functional groups, including phenolic hydroxyl, carboxyl, and methoxy groups, which makes it versatile and fascinating to use in different industries. Significant researchers have contributed toward lignin valorization, with a central goal being the production of chemicals, polymers, composites, adsorbents, supercapacitors, and fuel-grade hydrocarbons.

The goal of this Special Issue is to publish current innovative research and recent and advanced summaries of research in the form of reviews in the field of lignin biorefinery. The Special Issue will cover fascinating biological, thermochemical, and biochemical approaches addressing the climate, environmental, and future fuel/chemical challenges. Review and research articles on the development of lignin-based materials with targeted applications for catalysts, capacitors, adsorption, composites, and polymers are also welcome. If you would like to contribute a review paper, please contact one of the editors to discuss the topic’s relevance before submitting your manuscript.

Dr. Adarsh Kumar
Dr. Bijoy Biswas
Dr. Jeff Czajka
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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