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Updated: Jun 14, 2025

Ultrafast Lignin Extraction from Unusual Mediterranean Lignocellulosic Residues
Published on: March 9, 2021
Advances in catalytic conversion of lignin to vanillin using ionic liquids and deep eutectic solvents
Man Zhou1, Chenglin Li1, Ziwei Zhu1
1School of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China.
None:
Lignin is the most abundant renewable aromatic resource in nature. Lignin can be valorized into vanillin, an important food flavoring. Recent progress in ionic liquids (ILs) and deep eutectic solvents (DESs), two classes of emerging green solvents, suggest promising pathways for valorizing lignin into vanillin in a green and sustainable manner. This review comprehensively summarizes the methods for vanillin production from lignin, the composition and structure of ILs/DESs, and their mechanisms of dissolving lignin. Recent advances in the catalytic conversion of lignin into vanillin use various ILs/DESs systems are systematically reviewed. Particularly, the underlying mechanism of ILs/DESs catalytic conversion of lignin into vanillin are provided. Finally, the challenges and opportunities of lignin oxidative depolymerization for vanillin production in the future are discussed. This present work will provide new insights into lignin valorization and the sustainable production of vanillin.
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