Louisiana State University researchers show how lignin form plant biomass

February 1, 2022 |

In Louisiana, a new study published in Nature Communications, Louisiana State University researchers reveal how carbohydrates interact with the aromatic polymer lignin to form plant biomass. This new information can help advance the development of better technology to use biomass for energy and materials. 

The Wang research team examined the nanoscale assembly of lignocellulosic components in multiple plant species, including grasses and hardwood and softwood species. The grasses contain many food crops, such as maize, and are the primary feedstock for biofuel production in the U.S. Woody plants, often used for building construction materials, have become promising candidates for the next generation of biofuel to reduce the dependence on food crops. 

The team used their expertise in solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to compare the nanoscale organization of the lignin-carbohydrate interfaces across the three plant species and reveal how the structures of biopolymers affect their association with other cell wall components. 

Category: Research

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