A Catalytic Approach to the Total Conversion of Lignocellulosic Biomass to Simple Sugars and Anhydrosugars

Abstract

This project aims to develop a comprehensive strategy for the efficient and total conversion of lignocellulosic biomass—such as corn stover, bamboo, and switchgrass—into fermentable sugars, anhydrosugars, and recyclable bioplastics. Unlike food-based feedstocks, these non-edible sources do not compete with agriculture and offer a sustainable path to mitigate climate change. However, their complex structure and high lignin content make them resistant to conventional conversion methods, resulting in high costs and waste. To overcome these challenges, a team consisting of Associate Professor of Chemistry Jia Niu and Assistant Professor of Engineering Ali Salifu proposes an integrated approach that leverages a light-mediated catalytic process to selectively break down native lignin into functional oligomers, preserving the cellulose and hemicellulose, and mechanochemical ball milling to reduce crystallinity and enhance enzymatic access to sugars. Specific aims of the project include (a) developing a lignin-first catalytic strategy, (b) optimizing pretreatment for the release offermentable simple sugars, and (c) exploring catalytic routes to produce anhydrosugars. This integrated approach could significantly improve the economic viability of biorefineries and enable the production of sustainable fuels and plastics from abundant, renewable biomass.