Post by Sustainability #RSCSustainability

Check out the science behind the covers in the new issue of RSC Sustainability 💚👀 𝗟𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗹𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘀𝗼𝗳𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗯𝗶𝗼𝗺𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗰 𝗹𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗱–𝗲𝗻𝘇𝘆𝗺𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 Sharib Khan, Daniel Rauber, Luyao Wang, Udayakumar Veerabagu, Christopher W. M. Kay, Chunlin Xu, Sabarathinam Shanmugam and Timo Kikas: https://lnkd.in/eg7b9SRV This study demonstrates a sustainable biorefinery approach for valorizing lignin from Pinus sylvestris. The biomass was processed using a protic ionic liquid, triethylammonium methane sulfonate ([N222H][OMS]), to extract lignin, followed by its targeted depolymerization using bacterial laccases. The findings highlight the effectiveness of [N222H][OMS] in removing 87.90% of lignin from pine wood at 180 °C. Furthermore, engineered bacterial laccases demonstrated significant catalytic activity, converting 9.2% of aliphatic hydroxyl groups and 73.8% of phenolic hydroxyl groups in lignin into carboxylic acids. Similarly, benchmarked against commercially available kraft lignin, the same depolymerization approach achieved lower conversion rates, transforming 12.4% aliphatic and 44.5% phenolic hydroxyl groups in lignin into carboxylic acids. Thus, this integrated strategy, combining ionic liquid delignification with enzymatic upgrading, presents a scalable and efficient route for maximizing lignin valorization. 𝗔 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝘃𝘂𝗹𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 Dr. Christian Schmitt, Liam Dodd, Julia K. Walz, Leon Deterding, Patrick Lott Alexander P. Grimm, Michael Shaver, Tom Hasell and Patrick Theato: https://lnkd.in/eXshpF44 Inverse vulcanised polymers are claimed to be a green and more sustainable alternative to a wide range of materials for applications in energy storage, separation systems, construction and agriculture to just name a few. The use of waste material for their synthesis as well as the unique properties of these materials might be a game changer. But the path to large scale industrial production and application is still far as the scale-up comes with its own set of challenges. Herein, we take a closer look at the individual milestones in the lifecycle of inverse vulcanised polymers and how they can fit in as a more sustainable material along the road. Explore the full issue here: https://lnkd.in/ea48XdPh