Biomanufacturing of value-added chemicals from lignin
Arren Liu1, Dylan Ellis2, Apurv Mhatre2
1Biological Design Program, School for Engineering of Matter, Transport, and Energy, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.
Current Opinion in Biotechnology
|August 4, 2024
Summary
Biomanufacturing lignin valorization faces challenges from toxic, heterogeneous substrates. Emerging microbes with native aromatic metabolism offer the most promising solutions for converting lignin into value-added chemicals.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Chemical Engineering
- Synthetic Biology
Background:
- Lignin valorization is hindered by heterogeneous and toxic compounds from depolymerization.
- Existing biomanufacturing approaches struggle with the complex nature of lignin-derived feedstocks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore strategies for overcoming challenges in lignin valorization through biomanufacturing.
- To evaluate different microbial host systems for converting aromatic substrates into value-added chemicals.
Main Methods:
- Investigated plant cell wall engineering and 'lignin first' pretreatment for feedstock preparation.
- Assessed microbial systems including those that lack aromatic metabolism, metabolize only aromatics, or co-metabolize aromatics and sugars.
Main Results:
- Plant cell wall engineering and 'lignin first' methods address feedstock heterogeneity.
- Diverse microbial systems show varying efficiencies in converting aromatic substrates.
Conclusions:
- Emerging and non-model microbes with native aromatic metabolism are best suited for lignin valorization.
- Harnessing these microbes can significantly advance biomanufacturing of lignin-derived chemicals.
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