Lignin Gasification: Current and Future Viability

The consumption of fossil fuels is one of the main drivers of climate change. Lignin derived from biomass is a carbon-neutral raw feedstock, and its conversion into fuels is gaining much attention. The gasification of biomass aims to transform heterogeneous feedstocks into syngas and heat that could be used for various purposes. Lignin is a biomass feedstock of special interest due to its particular properties and its ability to be obtained in abundant quantities as a side product from the paper pulp industry as well as the growing cellulosic ethanol industry. This review explores the existing works regarding lignin gasification from different perspectives and compares the results obtained with other existing thermochemical processes, in addition to providing a perspective on the long-term fate of gasification as a technology compared to other emerging technologies. The analysis indicates that while lignin gasification may grow in importance in the near future due to increased interest in hydrogen production, its potential in emerging applications indicates that lignin may be too valuable to be used purely for energy generation purposes, and applications that take advantage of its inherent chemical compounds are expected to take priority in the long-term.

Automated summary

The consumption of fossil fuels is a significant driver of climate change. Lignin derived from biomass is being increasingly studied as a carbon-neutral raw material for fuel production. Gasification of biomass, specifically lignin, shows promise in producing syngas and heat for various applications. This review examines the existing research on lignin gasification and compares it to other thermochemical processes. The analysis suggests that while lignin gasification may gain importance in the near future for hydrogen production, its potential lies in utilizing its chemical compounds for emerging applications.