Haiyi Wang, Meiyun Zhang

(School of Biological Sciences, Soochow University)

Abstract：

Lignin has a relatively high carbon content and heat value, and a simple and direct utilization of lignin is to produce energy such as fuels and electricity. Conversion of lignin to energy shows great significance to utilize this abundant biomass and obtain renewable fuels. In this review, recent research progresses on the conversion of lignin to energy or fuels were reviewed, majorly including the source and isolation of lignin, conversion of lignin to biofuels by pyrolysis, gasification, liquefaction and catalytic hydroconversion, and the recently-developed efficient conversion of lignin to electricity. At last, the future research prospectives of bioenergy production from lignin were provided, including developing new catalysts according to desired products, optimizing the processes, establishing product separation methods with low energy consumption and good effect, and strengthening the research of lignin to electricity, to provide reference for high-value, resource and energy utilization of lignin.

Key Words：

lignin; bioenergy; energy production; pyrolysis; gasification