Bioconversion of lignin and its derivatives into polyhydroxyalkanoates: Challenges and opportunities

• Published in: Biotechnology and applied biochemistry Vol. 66; no. 2; p. 153
• Main Authors: Kumar, Prasun, Maharjan, Anoth, Jun, Hang-Bae, Kim, Beom Soo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.03.2019
• Subjects: Cupriavidus necator; biomass; laccase; lignin; microbial diversity; polyhydroxyalkanoates; Pseudomonas
• ISSN: 1470-8744
• DOI: 10.1002/bab.1720

Renewable energy resources are considered to be promising for the development of a sustainable circular economy. Among various alternatives, the microbial route for various biofuels production is quite lucrative. Use of cellulose and lignocellulose for methane, H , organic acids, ethanol, and cellulase has been explored a lot in the past few decades. The major leftover or a coproduct of these processes belongs to lignin-an aromatic cross-link polymer and one of the most abundant complex compounds on earth. A successful bioconversion route of lignin into high-value products is highly desirable for biorefinery perspective. It requires a complex set of enzymes/catalysts to decompose lignin through depolymerization and oxygen removal leading to its monomers that can be metabolized by engineered organisms to synthesize muconic acids, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), methane, and other high-value products. This article will focus on the opportunities and challenges in the bioconversion of lignin and its derivatives into PHAs.