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Updated: Nov 19, 2025
Ultrafast Lignin Extraction from Unusual Mediterranean Lignocellulosic Residues
Published on: March 9, 2021
Facilitating enzymatic hydrolysis with a novel guaiacol-based deep eutectic solvent pretreatment
Chen Huang1, Yunni Zhan2, Jinyuan Cheng2
1Institute of Chemical Industry of Forest Products, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Biomass Energy and Materials, Nanjing 210042, China; Co-Innovation Center for Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China; Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Tennessee Knoxville, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA.
A novel deep eutectic solvent (DES) effectively fractionates wheat straw, enhancing enzymatic digestibility. Adding aluminum chloride (AlCl3) improves lignin and hemicellulose breakdown, but precipitated lignin requires alkali washing for optimal yields in other biomass types.
Area of Science:
- Green Chemistry
- Biomass Valorization
- Biorefinery
Background:
- Deep eutectic solvents (DES) offer sustainable alternatives for biomass pretreatment.
- Lignin valorization remains a challenge in biorefinery processes.
- Efficient fractionation of lignocellulosic biomass is crucial for biofuel and biochemical production.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel DES for efficient lignocellulosic biomass fractionation.
- To investigate the role of additives in DES-mediated biomass pretreatment.
- To assess the impact of DES-treated lignin on enzymatic hydrolysis.
Main Methods:
- Formation of a deep eutectic solvent using guaiacol as a hydrogen bond donor.
- Pretreatment of wheat straw using the ChCl/guaiacol DES with and without AlCl3.
- Enzymatic hydrolysis of pretreated biomass.
- Characterization of DES-degraded lignin and its effect on hydrolysis yields.
Main Results:
- The ChCl/guaiacol DES alone showed limited efficacy.
- Incorporation of trace AlCl3 significantly enhanced hemicellulose and lignin degradation, leading to complete enzymatic digestibility of wheat straw.
- DES-degraded lignin precipitated during washing, hindering enzymatic hydrolysis of poplar and bamboo (42.03% and 71.67% yields).
- Alkali washing effectively removed precipitated lignin, achieving near 100% hydrolysis yields for poplar and bamboo.
Conclusions:
- A novel DES system with AlCl3 additive enables efficient wheat straw fractionation and complete enzymatic digestibility.
- Precipitation of DES-degraded lignin is a key challenge that can be overcome by alkali washing.
- This approach holds promise for improving biomass conversion efficiency in biorefineries.
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