Articles tagged with Lignins
Researchers have discovered a way for plants to adapt to drought by modifying their lignin chemistry, enabling them to grow and thrive in challenging conditions. By understanding the 'chemical code' of lignin, scientists can develop crops and trees that are more resilient to climate change stresses.
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have developed a new type of lignin that can improve the strength and recyclability of carbon fibers. When combined with polyacrylonitrile, the lignin-based material has shown record-breaking tensile strength and enhanced mechanical properties.
A new artificial enzyme has successfully degraded lignin, a stubborn polymer in woody plants, offering hope for developing a new renewable energy source. The enzyme, developed by mimicking natural enzymes that break down lignin in nature, shows promise for producing valuable products from lignin.
A fungus, Moniliophthora perniciosa, causes witches' broom disease in cocoa trees by releasing cytokinin, altering plant hormone balance. The fungus then consumes lignin produced by the tree's vascular tissue after its death.
Researchers developed a sustainable jet fuel from agricultural waste that increases energy density and replaces aromatics, reducing soot emissions and contrails. The fuel's properties make it suitable for blending with conventional fuels to meet aviation industry demands.
Researchers identified eight new microorganisms that cleave ether bonds in the lignin-based compound-2-phenoxyacetophenone. These discoveries could enhance our understanding of the carbon cycle and facilitate biotechnological applications for lignin commercialization.
Researchers at the University of Delaware have developed a low-pressure method to convert industrially processed biomass into high-performance plastics and valuable chemicals. The process uses glycerin as a solvent instead of methanol, reducing costs and environmental impact.
A team at the University of Córdoba has created a method to utilize lignin, a plant-derived substance, in drug synthesis processes for cancer treatments. The resulting 2.6-Dimethoxyquinone compound is highly valuable and can be used as a starting reagent.
Researchers developed a new phosphorescent material inspired by wood's natural ability to faintly glow, using lignin trapped within a 3D polymer network. The material glows visibly for around one second and has potential applications in medical imaging, optical sensing, and textile industry.
Researchers have discovered an enzyme that enables the accumulation of p-hydroxybenzoic acid in plant cell walls, a potential game-changer for sustainable industrial chemical production. By controlling the expression of this enzyme, plants can be engineered to produce more of this valuable chemical building block.
Researchers at Aalto University have developed a bio-based coating for wood using lignin, a natural polymer abundant in wood and other plant sources. The coating retains the natural structure of wood, making it more water repellent and resistant to stains and sunlight.
Researchers discovered that symbiotic bacteria living in shipworms' gills do not have the enzymes to break down lignin, a thick and difficult-to-digest layer of cellulose. Despite this finding, scientists are still trying to figure out what within the shipworm could be responsible for breaking down lignin.
A new study reveals a cost-effective method to produce biodegradable plastics from corn stubble, grasses, and mesquite, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional fossil fuel-based plastics. This breakthrough enables the creation of eco-friendly bioplastics that can replace conventional plastics in various industries.
Researchers discovered an enzyme in a fungus that breaks down lignocellulose, a key component of forestry and agricultural waste. This breakthrough has the potential to produce valuable chemicals and fuels, increasing the sustainability of renewable energy sources.
Scientists at Empa and ETH Zurich create piezoelectric wood by dissolving lignin using a biological process, resulting in an elastic material that generates a voltage when deformed. The technology has potential applications as a sensor or electricity-generating floor, and researchers are exploring its industrial feasibility.
Scientists at NREL have demonstrated that white-rot fungi can use carbon captured from lignin as a carbon source, consuming it and utilizing it to grow. This discovery provides another strategy for carbon sequestration in nature.
Researchers found that microbes from termite species can break down lignin, the toughest of three polymers in straw, up to 37%. The microbes also efficiently degrade hemicelluloses and cellulose, which could lead to increased biofuel production.
Researchers from Kanazawa University create a new, high-performance carbon fiber material by chemically modifying Kraft lignin, reducing its weight while maintaining mechanical strength. The resulting composite exhibits almost 3-fold improvement in mechanical strength compared to unmodified Kraft lignin.
Scientists have discovered a way to reduce lignin in poplar trees using CRISPR/Cas9 technology, leading to increased wood processing efficiency and a potential solution for a carbon-neutral bio-based economy. The research found that engineered trees showed no negative impact on growth or biomass yield.
Researchers at Graz University of Technology have created a redox-active electrolyte material using vanillin, replacing ecologically harmful heavy metals or rare earths in liquid batteries. The technology is an important step towards sustainable energy storage and has potential applications in renewable energy expansion and grid relief.
Researchers have developed a new technique to fabricate tiny circuits from ultrathin materials for next-generation electronics. Plants are being engineered to produce new molecules with enhanced properties, while lignin is transformed into a precursor for a useful chemical with wide range of applications
Researchers developed a new process to upgrade lignin bio-oil to hydrocarbons using dual catalysts, improving its usability as a fuel and source of chemical feedstocks. The process can be done at low temperature and ambient pressure, making it more practical and efficient.
Researchers developed a key technology to produce aviation-grade fuels from wood waste. The method uses hydrocracking to reduce lignin oil's high viscosity, making it suitable for industrial use. This breakthrough allows Korea to proactively meet jet fuel greenhouse emissions regulations.
A team of scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory used neutron scattering and supercomputing to understand how an organic solvent and water work together to break down plant biomass. They identified optimal temperatures for the process, which can aid in the rational design of even more efficient technologies.
Scientists at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz have developed a new sustainable method to extract vanillin from lignin, reducing toxic waste and increasing commercial viability. The process uses electrolytic depolymerization in caustic soda, producing high-quality vanillin with a yield of around four percent.
Researchers developed a model to predict changes in tree genes, reducing unintended consequences of genetic modification. The model captures cross-regulatory influences between genes, enabling more efficient gene-modification strategies.
A novel biofuel system has been developed for hydrogen production from biomass, improving efficiency and reducing energy consumption. The system uses lignin as an electron donor to produce high-value-added compounds and extract electrons for hydrogen production.
Researchers have used X-ray analysis to study lignin, a byproduct of paper production, and its potential as a sustainable raw material for manufacturing bioplastics. The study reveals that different lignin fractions can be engineered to have varying properties, such as hardness or softness, making them suitable for specific applications.
Researchers at KIST and international partners develop a new biofuel production process that uses genetic engineering to remove lignin, a major obstacle in biofuel production. The innovative process also utilizes bio-derived deep eutectic solvents and analysis technology to ensure economic feasibility.
An interdisciplinary team from KU Leuven has mapped out the technological and economic viability of replacing petroleum with wood in the chemical industry. The research suggests that a biorefinery using wood can produce chemicals with lower CO2 emissions, making it a more sustainable alternative.
Enzymes from white rot fungi accelerate lignin breakdown in wood, a key step in carbon cycling. This process is the rate-determining step in the global carbon cycle, with half-life exceeding the age of the universe.
Researchers have developed a method to produce pharmaceutical ingredients from woodchips, reducing waste and increasing efficiency. The process utilizes lignin, a component of wood, to synthesize potential drug candidates with promising antibacterial and anticancer activity.
Researchers used supercomputing and nano-imaging to reveal how a 'lignin-first' approach can facilitate the efficient breakdown of plant biomass. The study found that pretreating plant biomass with specific co-solvents, such as tetrahydrofuran and water, can help break down lignin and increase enzyme access to cellulose.
A new family of enzymes has been engineered to break down lignin, a key component of plants, enabling the production of sustainable materials such as nylon and bioplastics. This breakthrough could reduce reliance on oil and lower CO2 emissions.
A team of scientists has identified a novel lignin gene, Zm4CL1, that controls the maize bm5 mutant with reduced lignin content. The study reveals increased forage digestibility and cell wall saccharification efficiency in the bm5 mutant.
A recent study by scientists from Brookhaven National Laboratory has revealed the mechanistic details of a protein involved in the assembly of lignin, a key cell-wall component. The discovery identifies an electron shuttle protein that delivers fuel for the construction of one specific type of lignin building block.
Researchers discovered a bacterium in camel crickets that breaks down lignin, opening new pathways for biofuel production and chemical manufacturing. The study highlights the value of ecosystem analysis in identifying commercially valuable microorganisms with industrial applications.
Researchers at University of Wisconsin-Madison develop engineered microbe that can efficiently convert lignin from woody plants into a valuable aromatic compound. This conversion potential transforms the use of wood waste and unlocks a new industry for producing bioplastics.
Researchers reveal a different internal structure of corn that can help optimize its conversion into ethanol. The discovery opens doors for new approaches to improve biofuel production efficiency.
Researchers at ORNL created a lignin-nylon composite with improved printability and mechanical properties. The combination of lignin and nylon appears to have a lubrication or plasticizing effect on the composite, increasing room temperature stiffness while decreasing melt viscosity.
Researchers at Virginia Tech aim to create new ways to use renewably sourced plant and wood polymers to tackle long-standing challenges in medical drug solubility. The project focuses on designing biodegradable polymers that can help orally administered drugs reach the bloodstream effectively.
Researchers found that cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin polymers contribute to secondary cell wall formation independently of each other. The study suggests that microtubules regulate the patterning of hemicellulose and lignin, rather than cellulose.
Scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have discovered a novel type of lignin, C-lignin, that can be refined into various bioproducts with high yields and minimal processing. This breakthrough has the potential to transform agricultural markets by utilizing a previously underutilized plant biomass.
A team of international researchers has discovered a new family of cytochrome P450 enzymes that can convert lignin into valuable products. The discovery represents a new class of P450s, Family N, with a two-component architecture.
A new family of enzymes has been discovered that can convert plant waste into high-value products such as nylon and bioplastics. The research also offers additional environmental benefits by creating products from lignin, a previously waste material.
A team of scientists has discovered a critical plant gene that deviates from its anticipated function to regulate lignin production. The gene, which produces an amino acid, was found to enter the nucleus and act as a DNA-binding regulator of gene expression.
Researchers at Aalto University discovered that regulating lignin particle surface charge enables enzymes to adhere and multiply in efficiency. The breakthrough paves the way for using lignin as a sustainable material in industries.
Researchers at the University of Delaware developed a novel process to convert lignin, a common wood byproduct, into high-performance adhesive tape. The new process performs just as well as commercially available products and uses a sustainable material.
Researchers are working to develop commercially valuable products from plant materials, including chemicals, fuels and industrial materials. The goal is to make biobased products more cost-effective by using lignin and other plant components.
Sandia National Laboratories scientists have engineered E. coli to efficiently convert tough plant matter called lignin into valuable platform chemicals. This breakthrough solves three problems: cost, toxicity and speed, paving the way for economically viable biofuel production from renewable sources.
Researchers at Linköping University have developed a lignin-based fuel cell that converts the chemical energy of forest fuels into electricity without emitting carbon dioxide. The use of conducting polymer PEDOT:PSS as both electrode and proton conductor enables efficient proton-coupled electron transfer reactions.
Researchers discovered that plants create a molecular brace composed of lignin in the detachment zone to facilitate precise shedding. Additionally, they form a protective coating made of cutin on newly exposed cell surfaces, preventing infection and external harm.
Scientists at Brookhaven National Laboratory uncover how membrane proteins organize three enzymes involved in building lignin, a crucial cell-wall component. The discovery sheds light on the metabolic pathway channeling carbon into lignin precursors, potentially leading to new ways to promote carbon storage or biofuel production.
The researchers created a systems biology model that mimics the process of wood formation, allowing them to predict the effects of modifying multiple genes involved in lignin biosynthesis. This model will speed up the engineering of trees for specific needs in timber, biofuel, pulp, and paper applications.
The LigniOx project aims to commercialize a lignin-based concrete plasticizer technology that can compete with synthetic admixtures. The technology has shown promising results in enhancing workability and strength of fresh and matured concrete.
Researchers have demonstrated two new routes to lignin conversion, combining the speed of chemical methods with the precision of biological ones. The process yields high-value chemicals like muconic acid and pyrogallol, valued at $255.7 billion, and has the potential to subsidize biofuel production.
Researchers at Ames Laboratory have successfully decomposed lignin into stable components using a phosphate-modified ceria catalyst, producing useful industrial precursors for nylon production. The process eliminates the need for hydrogen from natural gas and uses an energy-conserving alcohol-based hydrogenation process.
Researchers have discovered an enzyme that can break down cellulose fibers regardless of their crystalline structure, paving the way for commercial cellulosic biofuels. The enzyme, CelA, excels at hydrolyzing both simple and highly complex crystalline cellulose.
A team of researchers has successfully transformed lignin, a component of plant cell walls, into strong and durable carbon fibers. The new material, made by blending lignin with polyarylonitrile, shows promise for reducing the carbon footprint of the automobile industry.
Researchers develop two-step process to consistently break lignin at one specific chemical bond using electrical potential and blue light, producing pharmaceuticals, plastics, and other household products. The method is cheaper, more environmentally friendly, and suitable for large-scale adoption in industry.