It's a tough job, but someone's got to do it. In this case, the 'job' is the breakdown of lignin, the structural biopolymer that gives stems, bark and branches their signature woodiness. One of the ...

Lignin, a chief component of cell walls in plants, is naturally degraded in the soil. Identifying new microorganisms involved in this degradation can help develop novel lignin breakdown processes in ...

A new book details how lignin once protected algae from UV radiation, then later in evolutionary time became a structural support for trees. The following is an excerpt from When the Earth Was Green: ...

This mini-review explores the influence of temperature on lignin deposition in plant cell walls, highlighting the need for adaptive strategies in lignin supply chains amidst global warming. Lignin, a ...

Efforts to achieve sustainability are driving the discovery of innovative ways to utilize lignin, with growing research focused on its beneficial applications. A key characteristic of biopolymers, ...

Scientists from the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory have discovered that a protein responsible for the synthesis of a key plant material evolved much earlier than ...

There is an old saying in the biorefining industry that "You can make anything from lignin, except money." This bio-based compound is abundant and full of potential, but commercializing it remains a ...

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Overcoming supply chain challenges is often a dance of two steps forward, one step back. As the European Union-funded project ...

Researchers have developed a quick and easy way to turn the wood-based bioproduct lignin into nanoparticles that can create a transparent coating with anti-fog properties or a colorful antireflective ...

The composites industry is under increasing pressure to deliver high-performance materials while improving sustainability, manufacturing efficiency and design freedom. Manufacturers are being asked to ...