Advanced Research on Lignin and Nanostructured Lignin: Biodegradation, Properties and Applications

Dear Colleagues,

Lignin is the most abundant polyphenol in nature. The pulp, paper, and biofuel industries generate lignin as waste in high amounts. For this reason, the design of novel processes for the valorization of lignin plays a key role in circular economy and green chemistry. Among them, the biodegradation of lignin is an important tool for the transformation of the starting material in order to produce high added fine chemicals, facilities, and commodities. In addition, present-day innovative nanotechnology has increased the chemical potentiality of biodegraded lignin by opening the way for the preparation of nanostructures characterized by improved chemophysical, rheological, and electrochemical properties.

This Special Issue welcomes experimental studies focusing their attention on the following topics:

• frontiers in the production of added value compounds by microbial degradation of lignin (including biofuel);
• role of redox enzymes or lignin-degrading auxiliary enzymes for the production of commodities and aromatic compounds;
• fractionation process of biodegraded lignin and successive nanotechnology and nano-biotechnology applications;
• application of biodegraded lignin in material sciences and biosensors;
• application of biodegraded lignin in biocatalysis and biomedical devices.

Original studies and comprehensive reviews on these topics will be accepted for the Special Issue in order to update our knowledge regarding the sustainable applications of biodegraded lignin.

Dr. Eliana Capecchi
Dr. Davide Piccinino
Prof. Dr. Raffaele Saladino
Guest Editors

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