Bacterial conversion routes for lignin valorization

As the largest renewable aromatic resource, lignin is a promising feedstock for production of value-added products. However, lignin valorization has not been implemented due to the recalcitrant and heterogeneity of lignin. Herein, this work provides a systematic overview of bacterial lignin valorization for producing value-added products from the viewpoint of a cascaded conversion route. The combinatorial depolymerization strategy facilitates the yield of a lignin-derived aromatic stream suitable for the bacterial conversion. Bacterial active transports are curial to improve the uptake of lignin-derived aromatics. Intracellular metabolic pathways of bacteria assimilate heterogenous lignin-derived aromatics through “biological funnel” into central aromatic intermediates. These intermediates can be effectively metabolized in bacteria through aromatic ring cleavage pathways to enable the biosynthesis of various value-added products. The techno-economic analysis highlights that bacterial conversion improves the feasibility of co-production of value-added products from lignin. Therefore, the bacterial cascaded conversion routes hold great promise for upgrading heterogeneous lignin into value-added products and thus contribute to the profitability of lignin valorization. Cascaded conversion routes of bacterial lignin valorization facilitate production of value-added products. [Display omitted] •Cascaded conversion route paves the way for bacterial lignin valorization.•Combinatorial fractionation improves lignin depolymerization and bioconversion.•Bacterial active transports of aromatics are crucial to lignin bioconversion.•Intracellular metabolic pathways assimilate heterogenous lignin-derived aromatics.•Ligninolytic bacteria can convert lignin to value-added products.