Lignin‐first Biorefining Process

Traditional lignocellulosic biomass utilization techniques struggle to stop the undesirable reactive intermediate condensation in industrial applications during biomass deconstruction. By either selectively catalyzing the conversion of these intermediates to stable derivatives, the lignin-first biorefinery prevents the condensation of reactive intermediates or prevents their formation by modifying the natural building blocks or intermediates. This approach has emerged as one of the most efficient ways to produce novel platform chemicals from lignin because it depolymerizes native lignin effectively. The lignin-first strategy is a catalyst-dependent, heterogeneous process that involves the following three main steps: solvolysis, fractionalization or depolymerization, and reductive stabilization. The obtained monolignol and phenolic units can then be utilized as substrates for producing pharmaceuticals, bio-based fuels, polymers, and aromatic chemicals etc. In this chapter, the revolutionary "lignin-first" method for lignocellulosic catalytic valorization is discussed.