Background

Prepare to be amazed by the hidden treasure found in nature’s own recycling system: lignin, the unsung hero of the plant world. This incredible biopolymer, intricately woven with three main aromatic monomers, stands alone as the only natural source of these precious aromatic building blocks. Despite the staggering 70-100 million tons of isolated lignin extracted from biomass annually through pulping or biorefining processes, most of this lignin remains a rough diamond, relegated to low-value applications due to its dark color, strong odor, broad molecular weight distribution, and limited reactivity.

But what if we could unlock the true potential of lignin and transform this overlooked biopolymer into a game-changer for sustainable materials and chemicals? The possibilities are endless, and