Lignin Utilization: Depolymerization and Bioconversion Process

A special issue of Processes (ISSN 2227-9717). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental and Green Processes".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2025 | Viewed by 369

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610213, China
Interests: lignocellulose; agricultural wastes; sustainability; biofuel; biochemical

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Lignin is the second most abundant polymer on Earth, following cellulose, and is a major component of plant cell walls. Historically, lignin has been considered a byproduct in the pulp and paper industry, often burned for energy recovery rather than being fully valorized; however, with the growing demand for sustainable resources and the transition towards a bioeconomy, there has been a significant shift in the perception of lignin. Its complex, aromatic structure holds great potential for the production of value-added chemicals, fuels, and materials. Depolymerization and bioconversion transform lignin from an underutilized waste stream into valuable products, thus reducing reliance on fossil-based resources and minimizing environmental impact.

This Special Issue on “Lignin Utilization: Depolymerization and Bioconversion Process” seeks high-quality works focusing on the latest scientific and technological advancements in this crucial area. Topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Physicochemical depolymerization techniques.
  • Enzymatic or fermentative conversion methods.
  • Metabolic and genetic engineering.
  • Byproducts’ sustainable utilization.
  • Emerging technology in process engineering and optimization.

Dr. Fang Deng
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • depolymerization
  • bioconversion
  • enzyme
  • fermentation
  • metabolic engineering
  • process optimization

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

16 pages, 2187 KiB  
Article
Aqueous-Phase Uptake of Amlodipine Besylate by Activated Carbon Derived from Dwarf Elder
by Milan Z. Momčilović, Vladimir Dodevski, Sanja Krstić, Milica Petrović, Ljiljana Suručić, Aleksandra Nešić and Aleksandar Lj. Bojić
Processes 2025, 13(5), 1483; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13051483 - 12 May 2025
Viewed by 257
Abstract
This study reports the synthesis of activated carbon from dwarf elder, a lignocellulosic precursor, yielding a material with a high specific surface area (500.43 m2/g) and mesoporous structure (median pore radius: 3.88 nm). The physicochemical properties of the obtained carbon were [...] Read more.
This study reports the synthesis of activated carbon from dwarf elder, a lignocellulosic precursor, yielding a material with a high specific surface area (500.43 m2/g) and mesoporous structure (median pore radius: 3.88 nm). The physicochemical properties of the obtained carbon were characterized using field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), confirming its suitability for aqueous-phase sorption applications. Batch experiments demonstrated carbon’s efficacy in adsorbing amlodipine besylate (AMB), a model pharmaceutical pollutant, with a maximum capacity of 325.9 mg/g under optimized conditions (pH 10.0, room temperature). Systematic evaluation of key parameters, such as initial AMB concentration, sorbent dosage, pH, and agitation speed revealed that sorption kinetics adhered to pseudo-second-order and Elovich model. The high efficiency of the synthesized carbon material, coupled with its low-cost and eco-friendly synthesis, positions it as a promising candidate for the scalable remediation of AMB and structurally related pharmaceuticals from contaminated water sources. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Lignin Utilization: Depolymerization and Bioconversion Process)
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