Investigation of the chemocatalytic and biocatalytic valorization of a range of different lignin preparations: the importance of β-O-4 content

Christopher S. Lancefield, Goran M. M. Rashid, Florent Bouxin, Agata Wasak, Wei-Chien Tu, Jason P. Hallett, Sharif Zein, Jaime Rodríguez, S. David Jackson, Nicholas J. Westwood, Timothy D. H. Bugg

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

A set of seven different lignin preparations was generated from a range of organosolv (acidic, alkaline, ammonia-treated and dioxane-based), ionic liquid, autohydrolysis and Kraft pretreatments of lignocelluloses. Each lignin was characterised by 2D HSQC NMR spectroscopy, showing significant variability in the β-O-4 content of the different lignin samples. Each lignin was then valorised using three biocatalytic methods (microbial biotransformation with Rhodococcus jostii RHA045, treatment with Pseudomonas fluorescens Dyp1B or Sphingobacterium sp. T2 manganese superoxide dismutase) and two chemocatalytic methods (catalytic hydrogenation using Pt/alumina catalyst, DDQ benzylic oxidation/Zn reduction). Highest product yields for DDQ/Zn valorisation were observed from poplar ammonia percolation-organosolv lignin, which had the highest β-O-4 content of the investigated lignins and also gave the highest yield of syringaldehyde (243 mg L-1) when using R. jostii RHA045, and the most enzymatic products using P. fluorescens Dyp1B. The highest product yield from the Pt/alumina hydrogenation was observed using oak dioxasolv lignin, which also had a high β-O-4 content. In general, highest product yields for both chemocatalytic and biocatalytic valorisation methods were obtained from preparations that showed highest β-O-4 content, while variable yields were obtained with preparations containing intermediate β-O-4
content, and little or no product was obtained with preparations containing low β-O-4 content.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)6921-6930
Number of pages10
JournalACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering
Volume4
Issue number12
Early online date3 Oct 2016
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 5 Dec 2016

Keywords

  • Catalytic hydrogenation
  • Dyp peroxidase
  • Lignin valorization
  • Microbial biotransformation
  • Rhodococcus jostii RHA1
  • Superoxide dismutase

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