Role of Lignin in Biochemical Conversion of Lignocellulose Biomass into Fuels and Biochemicals

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In a typical process of biochemical conversion of lignocellulose materials such as wood and agriculture residues into fuels and chemicals, either hemicellulose or lignin has to be removed so that cellulase can access cellulose molecules more easily. Lignin makes up 20%-30% of plant mass varying with species. Lignin acts as a physical barriers restricting access of cellulases to cellulose; and lignin and lignin derivatives also bind with cellulase, so called non-productive binding. The objective of this study is to obtain fundamental understanding of how lignin in the substrate affects biomass conversion. Specifically, EM, XPS, CLSM, AFM will be used to determine the redistribution of lignin after a pretreatment, and a specially designed AFM system in our lab will be used to study the interactive forces between cellulases and lignin. Lignin content, lignin distribution, and the composition of different types of lignin in substrates and in hydrolysis systems will be investigated for its contribution to substrate recalcitrance.