Lignin Changes during Prehydrolysis of Lignocellulosic Biomass for Cellulose Bioconversion: A Review

The bioconversion of a lignocellulosic biomass presents significant challenges due to its complex structure. Various pretreatments have been explored to enhance biomass accessibility for efficient fractionation. Prehydrolysis, known for its environmental friendliness and promising benefits, emerges as an effective strategy. This Review provides a concise account of lignin's chemical structure and its transformations during the prehydrolysis. It explores the mechanisms involved in biomass prehydrolysis, focusing on lignin's degradation, dissolution, and migration. We end with a perspective to deepen the understanding of lignin's role during prehydrolysis in efforts to advance lignocellulose bioconversion.