Atomic catalyst unlocks the hidden value of plant waste

Scientists have created a highly efficient catalyst that breaks down stubborn lignin from plant waste into useful chemicals under relatively mild conditions. By revealing exactly how the catalyst works at the atomic level, the discovery could help turn forestry and agricultural waste into renewable building blocks for fuels, plastics, and other materials. Atomic catalyst unlocks the hidden value of plant waste.

Atomic catalyst unlocks the hidden value of plant waste | Science News from research organizations Atomic catalyst unlocks the hidden value of plant waste A new atomic-scale catalyst could transform stubborn plant waste into valuable chemicals now commonly made from petroleum. Share: Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIN Email FULL STORY Plant-based lignin reimagined as a platform for ultra-efficient catalysts that could help make chemistry more sustainable. Credit: The University of Manchester Lignin gives plants much of their structural strength and represents the largest renewable source of aromatic chemicals found in nature.

It can make up a substantial share (up to 35%) of waste biomass from agriculture and forestry. Yet lignin’s complicated molecular structure makes it notoriously difficult to break apart efficiently, which has limited its potential use in sustainable manufacturing. In a study published in ACS Catalysis, an international team that included Dr.