Title:
Direct and multistep conversion of lignin to biofuels

dc.contributor.advisor Ragauskas, Arthur J.
dc.contributor.author Kosa, Matyas en_US
dc.contributor.committeeMember Hud, Nicholas V.
dc.contributor.committeeMember Preet Singh
dc.contributor.committeeMember May, Sheldon W.
dc.contributor.committeeMember Yulin Deng
dc.contributor.department Chemistry and Biochemistry en_US
dc.date.accessioned 2013-01-17T21:46:36Z
dc.date.available 2013-01-17T21:46:36Z
dc.date.issued 2012-08-30 en_US
dc.description.abstract Lignin is the second most abundant biopolymer on Earth, right after cellulose, with a highly complex chemical structure that hinders its possible utilizations. Applications that utilize lignin in different manners are of great interest, due to its inexpensive nature. Present work is based on the notion of converting lignin into different biofuels that have only a few, however important, advantages over lignin as a direct energy source. The first part of current work (pyrolysis) details the analysis of lignin from a relatively new lignin isolation process called LignoBoost. It is obtained from the pulp and paper industry via CO₂ precipitation of lignin from black liquor (BL). This method is environment friendly, results lignin with minimal oxidation, eliminates the main bottleneck of the Kraft cycle (recovery boiler capacity), and yet leaves enough lignin in the process stream to recover pulping chemicals and generate energy for the pulp mill. Pyrolysis had converted this lignin into bio-oil with high aliphatic content and low oxidation level, all advantageous for application as liquid fuel. The second part of this dissertation proved the theory that lignin degradation and lipid accumulation metabolic pathways can be interconnected. Gram-positive Rhodococcus opacus species, DSM 1069 and PD630 were used to evaluate lignin to lipid bioconversion, starting with ethanol organosolv and Kraft lignin. This conversion is a first step in a multistep process towards biodiesel production, which includes transesterification, after lipids are extracted from the cells. Results clearly indicated that the lignin to lipid bioconversion pathway is viable, by cells gaining up to 4 % of their weight in lipids, while growing solely on lignin as a carbon and energy source. en_US
dc.description.degree PhD en_US
dc.identifier.uri http://hdl.handle.net/1853/45836
dc.publisher Georgia Institute of Technology en_US
dc.subject Lignin en_US
dc.subject Lipid en_US
dc.subject Oleaginous bateria en_US
dc.subject Rhodococcus en_US
dc.subject Beta-ketoadipate en_US
dc.subject Pyrolysis en_US
dc.subject.lcsh Biomass conversion
dc.subject.lcsh Biomass energy
dc.subject.lcsh Energy crops
dc.title Direct and multistep conversion of lignin to biofuels en_US
dc.type Text
dc.type.genre Dissertation
dspace.entity.type Publication
local.contributor.corporatename School of Chemistry and Biochemistry
local.contributor.corporatename College of Sciences
relation.isOrgUnitOfPublication f1725b93-3ab8-4c47-a4c3-3596c03d6f1e
relation.isOrgUnitOfPublication 85042be6-2d68-4e07-b384-e1f908fae48a
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