title: Lignin as renewable raw material.
abstract: Lignin is by far the most abundant substance based on aromatic moieties in nature, and the largest contributor to soil organic matter. Millions of tonnes of several lignin preparations are produced by the paper industry every year, and a minimal amount of lignin is isolated by direct extraction of lignin from plants. Lignin is used either directly or chemically modified, as a binder, dispersant agent for pesticides, emulsifier, heavy metal sequestrant, or component for composites and copolymers. For value-added applications of lignin to be improved, medium- and long-term conversion technologies must be developed, especially for the preparation of low-molecular-weight compounds as an alternative to the petrochemical industry.
authors.affiliation: Dpto. Química Orgánica, Universidad de Granada, Spain. fgarciac@ugr.es
authors.forename: Francisco García
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Calvo-Flores
authors.forename: José A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Dobado
mesh_terms: D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D008031:Lignin; D012987:Soil
chemical_list: D012987:Soil; D008031:Lignin