[China Packaging Network] Professor Li Yongdan from the School of Chemical Engineering at Tianjin University has led a groundbreaking research project that introduces a "one-step, highly efficient catalytic conversion process for lignin." This innovative method successfully transforms alkali lignin into high-value organic small molecules with high yield and great potential for industrial application. The process has already been fully tested in the lab, is now entering pilot testing and technology transfer stages, and offers a promising solution to turn previously unusable and polluting lignin waste into valuable resources. The findings were published in one of the top global chemistry journals, *Angewandte Chemie International Edition*, and the team has also filed one international invention patent along with four domestic patents.
According to the annual report of China's paper industry, the country’s pulp and paper sector produces around 30 million tons of cellulose annually while generating approximately 10 million tons of lignin as a byproduct. However, over 95% of this lignin is either discharged into rivers or burned as "black liquor," causing severe environmental damage. Discharge leads to water and soil contamination, while burning results in low energy output and air pollution due to sulfur oxides.
Lignin is a complex three-dimensional polymer made up of phenylpropane units. Its highly stable molecular structure makes it extremely difficult to break down into useful subunits, especially in an economical way. Traditional methods involve vaporizing lignin and converting it into liquid products via processes like Fischer-Tropsch synthesis or methanol production. These approaches are energy-intensive, inefficient, and often produce unwanted byproducts such as tar.
The Li Yongdan team has developed a revolutionary "one-step catalytic conversion" process that effectively breaks down the long, stable chains of lignin into high-value organic small molecules. For the first time worldwide, they have used inexpensive, nanostructured catalysts in this process. Not only do they produce aromatic hydrocarbons, but they also generate long-chain alcohols and lipids—compounds that are typically expensive and hard to synthesize. The method is both simple and cost-effective, offering a more sustainable approach.
In addition, the one-step catalytic conversion process achieves a total liquid product yield of up to 1.64 grams per gram of lignin. This opens the door for practical commercialization. For instance, using lignin byproduct from a paper company in Shandong, the catalytic conversion resulted in a yield of 1,530 mg per gram of lignin, with an estimated value of 51,400 yuan per ton of lignin.
Professor Li Yongdan sees lignin as a crucial component in the future of renewable biomass, aiming to replace petroleum as a raw material for fuels and chemicals. He emphasizes that reducing the environmental impact of biological refining is essential. “If we can create value from lignin, we can significantly reduce pressure on non-renewable resources and the environment,†he said.
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