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Updated: Jul 2, 2026
10:18
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
Direct Determination of the Interaction between Carbohydrate-Binding Modules and Lignin with Different Phenol
Hui Chen1,2, Bo Jiang2, Md Mostafizur Rahman3
1State Key Laboratory for Development and Utilization of Forest Food Resources, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, China.
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
|July 1, 2026
Summary
Phenolic hydroxyl groups on lignin significantly impact cellulase adsorption, a key factor in bioethanol production. Increasing these groups enhances enzyme binding and interaction forces, guiding lignin modification strategies.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Biotechnology
- Materials Science
Background:
- Nonproductive adsorption of cellulase onto lignin impedes efficient bioethanol production.
- Phenolic hydroxyl (Ph-OH) groups are hypothesized to be critical in lignin-cellulase interactions, but the mechanism is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically investigate the role of phenolic hydroxyl (Ph-OH) content in lignin-cellulase interactions.
- To quantify the direct impact of Ph-OH groups on carbohydrate-binding module (CBM) adsorption and interaction forces with lignin.
Main Methods:
- Preparation of lignins with varying Ph-OH content via acetylation or phenolation of softwood kraft lignin (KL).
- Utilized single-molecule dynamic force spectroscopy with immobilized CBMs to directly measure lignin-CBM interactions.
- Performed physicochemical characterization and thermodynamic analyses.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated a linear correlation between increased Ph-OH content and enhanced CBM adsorption on lignin.
- Observed a significant increase in lignin-CBM interaction force (2.31-8.33 nN) with higher Ph-OH content.
- Physicochemical analysis revealed increased surface negative charge and reduced hydrophobicity with higher Ph-OH content.
Conclusions:
- Directly confirmed that Ph-OH content is a crucial factor influencing CBM-lignin interactions.
- Thermodynamic analysis indicated contributions from electrostatic attraction, hydrogen bonding, and hydrophobic interactions, with Ph-OH enhancing the former two.
- Findings provide a scientific basis for targeted lignin modification to optimize cellulase adsorption in lignocellulosic biorefineries.
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