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

木质素在木质纤维素生物质生化转化为燃料和生化产品中的作用

• 批准号: RGPIN-2014-06463
• 负责人: Li, Kecheng
• 金额: $ 2.11万
• 依托单位: University of New Brunswick
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2014
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2014-01-01 至 2015-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=567822
• 关键词: Role; Lignin; Biochemical; Conversion; Lignocellulose

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 lignocellulose substrate affects biomass conversion. We will use EM, XPS, CLSM, AFM to determine the redistribution of lignin after a pretreatment process, and will use a specially designed AFM system in our lab 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 to enzyme hydrolysis. Many efforts have been made in research around the world in order to develop technologies for biomass conversion; however, economically viable technologies are scarce. It is clear that more fundamental questions in biomass conversion process need to be answered. This proposed project will gaining new understanding of lignocellulose biomass structure and chemical components at micro- and nano-scale, and link these characteristics to the substrate digestibility. It is expected that new knowledge obtained from this study will provide crucially important information for improving the existing and developing new biochemical conversion technologies which is economically viable for industrial applicaitons. This research program involves expertise in the areas of chemical engineering, chemistry, biology, industrial processes, and state-of-the-art surface and nanoscale analysis techniques, and thus provides a unique opportunity for training HQP’s for Canada.

在将木材和农业残留物等木质纤维素材料生化转化为燃料和化学品的典型过程中，必须去除半纤维素或木质素，以便纤维素酶能够更容易地接触占植物质量20%-30%的木质素分子。木质素作为限制纤维素酶接触纤维素的物理屏障而变化；木质素和木质素衍生物也与纤维素酶结合，即所谓的纤维素酶。本研究的目的是从根本上了解木质纤维素底物中的木质素如何影响生物质转化，我们将使用 EM、XPS、CLSM、AFM 来确定预处理过程后木质素的重新分布。我们实验室专门设计的 AFM 系统用于研究纤维素酶和木质素含量、木质素分布以及基质和木质素中不同类型木质素之间的相互作用力。为了开发生物质转化技术，人们在水解系统中对底物不耐受的贡献进行了研究；但是，很明显，更基本的问题还很少。该项目将在微米和纳米尺度上获得对木质纤维素生物质结构和化学成分的新认识，并将这些特征与底物消化率联系起来。将要为改进现有的正在开发的和新的生化转化技术提供至关重要的信息，这些技术对于工业应用在经济上是可行的。该研究项目涉及化学工程、化学、生物学、工业过程和最先进的表面领域的专业知识。和纳米级分析技术，从而为加拿大培训总部专业人员提供了独特的机会。