Opportunities and challenges in biological lignin valorization

Highlights • Lignin valorization is a primary challenge in the integrated lignocellulosic biorefinery. • Lignin heterogeneity is a key hurdle for its effective upgrading to value-added products. • Microbes are able to ‘biologically funnel’ heterogeneous aromatic compounds to single compounds. • This...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Current opinion in biotechnology 2016-12, Vol.42 (C), p.40-53
Main Authors: Beckham, Gregg T, Johnson, Christopher W, Karp, Eric M, Salvachúa, Davinia, Vardon, Derek R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
09 BIOMASS FUELS
Bacteria - metabolism
biological funneling
Biomass
Biotechnology - methods
INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANAYLYTICAL CHEMISTRY
integrated lignocellulosic biorefinery
Internal Medicine
Lignin - metabolism
lignin valorization
Metabolic Engineering
Substrate Specificity
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Summary:Highlights • Lignin valorization is a primary challenge in the integrated lignocellulosic biorefinery. • Lignin heterogeneity is a key hurdle for its effective upgrading to value-added products. • Microbes are able to ‘biologically funnel’ heterogeneous aromatic compounds to single compounds. • This biological funneling concept may enable selective lignin valorization to target chemicals and fuels. • To enable biological funneling will require a co-design problem with the substrate, microbe, pathways, and processing.
ISSN:0958-1669
1879-0429
DOI:10.1016/j.copbio.2016.02.030