Supramolecular interaction-driven delignification of lignocellulose

Abstract

Lignocellulose has the great potential as a sustainable resource to replace fossil-based raw materials, however, properties, such as a complicated crosslinked structure, create a significant obstacle for utilization, as the isolation of lignocellulose components has hardly been achieved under mild conditions. Here, we demonstrate that the use of an aromatic hydrogen bond donor (thymol) creates a supramolecular interaction between the delignification medium and lignin, which is key to removing almost all the lignin from the softwood within minutes, at near-ambient temperatures. Strong support for supramolecular interactions was demonstrated via the formation of a room temperature liquid between two solids (lignin and thymol). The concept of supramolecular interaction between lignin and thymol will help elevate the feasibility of biobased materials across a wide range of applications.