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Updated: Jun 3, 2025

Extraction of Lignin with High β-O-4 Content by Mild Ethanol Extraction and Its Effect on the Depolymerization Yield
Published on: January 7, 2019
Elucidating the synergistic action between sulfonated lignin and lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs) in
Yufeng Yuan1, Jie Wu2, Fanqi Wei3
1Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, International Innovation Center for Forest Chemicals and Materials, and Jiangsu Provincial Key Lab of Pulp and Paper Science and Technology, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China; Forest Product Biotechnology/Bioenergy Group, Department of Wood Science, University of British Columbia, 2424 Main Mal, Vancouver V6T 1Z4, Canada.
Abstract:
Modern enzyme cocktails often include lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase (LPMO) as an accessory enzyme that enhances cellulose accessibility during hydrolysis. Although lignin is known to generally impede cellulose hydrolysis, previous research has demonstrated lignin's potential to act as a co-factor in boosting LPMO activity and that the negative impact of lignin limiting enzyme accessibility can be mitigated by sulfonated. When sulphonated lignin was added to microcrystalline cellulose (Avicel) the activity of the lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase (LPMO) was boosted, as determined when using a quartz crystal microbalance and dissipation monitoring (QCM-D). Further assessment via scanning electron microscopy, Simon's staining and nitrogen adsorption indicated that the addition of sulphonated lignin with the LPMO also increased cellulose accessibility.
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