A ternary deep eutectic solvent for efficient biomass fractionation and lignin stabilization

Yao Zheng; Pengcheng Xue; Rong Guo; Jianyu Gong; Guangfu Qian; Changzhou Chen; Douyong Min; Yan Tong; Minsheng Lu

doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.140070

A ternary deep eutectic solvent for efficient biomass fractionation and lignin stabilization

Int J Biol Macromol. 2025 Jan 19:140070. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.140070. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Yao Zheng¹, Pengcheng Xue², Rong Guo³, Jianyu Gong⁴, Guangfu Qian⁵, Changzhou Chen⁶, Douyong Min⁷, Yan Tong⁸, Minsheng Lu⁹

Affiliations

¹ Guangxi Key Laboratory of Clean Pulp & Papermaking and Pollution Control, School of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Guangxi Key Laboratory of Clean Pulp & Papermaking and Pollution Control, School of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
³ Guangxi Key Laboratory of Clean Pulp & Papermaking and Pollution Control, School of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁴ Guangxi Key Laboratory of Clean Pulp & Papermaking and Pollution Control, School of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China.
⁵ Guangxi Key Laboratory of Clean Pulp & Papermaking and Pollution Control, School of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁶ Guangxi Key Laboratory of Clean Pulp & Papermaking and Pollution Control, School of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁷ Guangxi Key Laboratory of Clean Pulp & Papermaking and Pollution Control, School of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁸ Intelligent Manufacturing College, Guangxi Vocational & Technical Institute of Industry, Nanning 530001, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁹ Guangxi Key Laboratory of Clean Pulp & Papermaking and Pollution Control, School of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 39837436
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2025.140070

Abstract

The efficient isolation and lignin stabilization are critical to the fractionation process of lignocellulosic biomass, enabling the subsequent valorization of both carbohydrates and lignin. In this study, a ternary deep eutectic solvent pretreatment system with outstanding reusability has been developed. Under optimal conditions (ChCl: MT: p-TsOH = 1:1:0.5, 120 °C, 60 min), the system efficiently removed 94.66 % of hemicellulose and 95.74 % of lignin while retaining 84.50 % of cellulose. Glucose was obtained from the cellulose-rich solid residue via enzymatic hydrolysis, achieving an 87.12 % yield. This DES system inhibits lignin condensation through a dual mechanism of α-etherification and intermolecular forces (π-π stacking and hydrophobic interaction). The recovered lignin exhibits a low molecular weight (922-1049 g/mol), high phenolic hydroxyl content (2.57-3.37 mmol/g), low polydispersity (1.54-1.61), and high purity (93.02 %). Combined with its superior antioxidant activity and UV shielding properties, this lignin represents a promising new resource with potential applications.

Keywords: Fractionation; Lignin condensation; Lignocellulose; Ternary deep eutectic solvent.