Across the Board: Mark Mascal on the Challenges of Lignin Biorefining

Abstract

In this series of articles, the board members of ChemSusChem discuss recent research articles that they consider of exceptional quality and importance for sustainability. This entry features Prof. M. Mascal, who describes some creative solutions to the challenge of lignin biorefining and shares thoughts about how the purposes of sustainability are best served. Topics discussed include lignin saturation and hydrodeoxygenation, lignin isolation, a lignin to muconic acid pathway, and the production of 2,4- and 2,5-pyrinedicarboxylic acids from lignin.

Keywords: adipic acid; biorefining; lignin; pyrinedicarboxylic acid; sustainability.