Applications of Modified and Unmodified Lignins

Antimicrobial Properties of Corn Stover Lignin Fractions Derived from Catalytic Transfer Hydrogenolysis in Supercritical Ethanol with a Ru/C Catalyst

“…3 The native lignin in plants has been considered to play a notable role in the plant defense by providing antimicrobial, antifungal, antiviral, antioxidant, insecticidal, and antifeeding properties. 4 Lignin's source of antimicrobial properties is due to the phenolic subunits that comprise lignin's polyphenolic structure. 5 These polyphenolic compounds are thought to act as ionophores that increase ion permeability in the cell causing cell death or damage to the cell membranes of both Gram-positive and -negative bacteria causing cell lysis.…”

“…6−8 On the basis of the literature, the lignin concentration, structure of lignin phenolic subunits, and origin of the extracted lignin are drivers affecting its antimicrobial properties that also depend on the microorganism being tested. 4,6,9 While a variety of technical lignins (e.g., from the Kraft and organosolv processes) exhibited notable antimicrobial properties, lignin model monomers have been shown to have a greater antimicrobial affect compared to the larger and not well-defined polyphenolic structures comprising technical lignins. 10 Thus, to increase the effectiveness and selectivity of antimicrobial properties, it is necessary to depolymerize the polyphenolic structure in the extracted lignin into smaller units.…”

“…There are increasing research efforts in examining lignin-derived phenolic compounds for their antimicrobial properties . The native lignin in plants has been considered to play a notable role in the plant defense by providing antimicrobial, antifungal, antiviral, antioxidant, insecticidal, and antifeeding properties . Lignin’s source of antimicrobial properties is due to the phenolic subunits that comprise lignin’s polyphenolic structure .…”

“…Lignin’s source of antimicrobial properties is due to the phenolic subunits that comprise lignin’s polyphenolic structure . These polyphenolic compounds are thought to act as ionophores that increase ion permeability in the cell causing cell death or damage to the cell membranes of both Gram-positive and -negative bacteria causing cell lysis. − On the basis of the literature, the lignin concentration, structure of lignin phenolic subunits, and origin of the extracted lignin are drivers affecting its antimicrobial properties that also depend on the microorganism being tested. ,, While a variety of technical lignins (e.g., from the Kraft and organosolv processes) exhibited notable antimicrobial properties, lignin model monomers have been shown to have a greater antimicrobial affect compared to the larger and not well-defined polyphenolic structures comprising technical lignins . Thus, to increase the effectiveness and selectivity of antimicrobial properties, it is necessary to depolymerize the polyphenolic structure in the extracted lignin into smaller units.…”