Enzymatic conversion of pretreated lignocellulosic biomass: A review on influence of structural changes of lignin

Yequan Sheng; Su Shiung Lam; Yingji Wu; Shengbo Ge; Jinglei Wu; Liping Cai; Zhenhua Huang; Quyet Van Le; Christian Sonne; Changlei Xia

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2020.124631

Enzymatic conversion of pretreated lignocellulosic biomass: A review on influence of structural changes of lignin

Bioresour Technol. 2021 Mar:324:124631. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2020.124631. Epub 2020 Dec 31.

Authors

Yequan Sheng¹, Su Shiung Lam², Yingji Wu¹, Shengbo Ge², Jinglei Wu³, Liping Cai⁴, Zhenhua Huang⁵, Quyet Van Le⁶, Christian Sonne⁷, Changlei Xia⁸

Affiliations

¹ Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forestry Resources, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210037, China.
² Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forestry Resources, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210037, China; Higher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICoE), Institute of Tropical Aquaculture and Fisheries (AKUATROP), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia.
³ Key Laboratory of Science and Technology of Eco-Textile, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Donghua University, Shanghai, China.
⁴ Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forestry Resources, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210037, China; Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76207, USA.
⁵ Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76207, USA.
⁶ Institute of Research and Development, Duy Tan University, Da Nang 550000, Viet Nam.
⁷ Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forestry Resources, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210037, China; Aarhus University, Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark.
⁸ Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forestry Resources, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210037, China; Aarhus University, Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark. Electronic address: changlei.xia@njfu.edu.cn.

PMID: 33454445
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2020.124631

Abstract

The demands of energy sustainability drive efforts to bio-chemical conversion of biomass into biofuels through pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis, and microbial fermentation. Pretreatment leads to significant structural changes of the complex lignin polymer that affect yield and productivity of the enzymatic conversion of lignocellulosic biomass. Structural changes of lignin after pretreatment include functional groups, inter unit linkages and compositions. These changes influence non-productive adsorption of enzyme on lignin through hydrophobic interaction and electrostatic interaction as well as hydrogen bonding. This paper reviews the relationships between structural changes of lignin and enzymatic hydrolysis of pretreated lignocellulosic biomass. The formation of pseudo-lignin during dilute acid pretreatment is revealed, and their negative effect on enzymatic hydrolysis is discussed.

Keywords: Enzymatic hydrolysis; Lignin characterization; Lignin structure; Pretreatment; Pseudo-lignin.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Biofuels*
Biomass
Hydrolysis
Lignin*

Substances

Biofuels
lignocellulose
Lignin