NREL of US Energy Dept. to plan conversion of lignin into valuable products

National Renewable Energy Laboratory of the US Energy Dept. suggests conversion of lignin into useful products. According to the researches of the group, a new method for upgrading this bio-based polymer into useful chemicals, fuels and materials has been researched. Lignin is an aromatic polymer found in cell wall of plants for making it strong. As depolymerization of this substance is not possible it cannot be employed for manufacturing of valuable products in its degraded form. That’s why the company is now planning to upgrade it directly into useful products.

Gregg Beckham, Senior Engineer at NREL stated that in general bio-refineries produce more lignin than requirement for conversion of cellulosic biomass into liquid fuel; the extra amount of lignin is used for power. The leftover amount of lignin is now being subjected for production of useful products through well planned strategies.

Know more about the deal here at – http://www.processingmagazine.com/articles/127835-us-researchers-highlight-possibilities-for-lignin-use

Research programs are also based upon the planning of using culture of organisms that utilize lignin; those organisms can be introduced into biological conversion process of the polymer. In this way, the heterogeneity of lignin can be overcome and various kinds of materials can be derived from lignocelluloses biomass. The value added products formed through lignin can involve low cost carbon fiber, thermoplastic elastomer and variety of fuels and chemicals.