AUTHOR=Qian Haojiang , Fan Yafeng , Chen Jiazhao , He Linsong , Sun Yongming , Li Lianhua 

TITLE=Enabling the complete valorization of hybrid Pennisetum: Directly using alkaline black liquor for preparing UV-shielding biodegradable films

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology

VOLUME=Volume 10 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/bioengineering-and-biotechnology/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2022.1027511

DOI=10.3389/fbioe.2022.1027511

ISSN=2296-4185

ABSTRACT=The conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into various high-value chemicals has been a rapidly expanding research topic in industry and agriculture. Among them, alkaline removal and utilization of lignin are important for the accelerated degradation of biomass. The current trend in various industries is the advancement of economical, green, and environmentally friendly processes. Therefore, it is preferable to develop cost-effective and simple biomass conversion technologies to obtain high-value products. In this study, the black liquor (BL) obtained from the alkaline pretreatment of biomass was added to polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) solution and used to prepare degradable ultraviolet (UV) shielding films, achieving direct and efficient utilization of the aqueous phase of the alkaline pretreatment. This method avoids the extraction step of lignin, the raw material of the film, and uses alkaline BL directly from biomass pretreatment as the raw material. In addition, the direct use of alkaline BL results in films with similar UV-shielding properties, higher physical strength, and similar thermal stability compared with commercial alkaline lignin. Therefore, this strategy is proposed for alkaline-pretreated biorefineries as a simple way to convert waste BL into valuable products and partially recover unconsumed sodium hydroxide to achieve zero-waste biorefineries.