Sustainable Biofuel Breakthrough: Turning Sugarcane Waste into Valuable Chemicals
Lignin, a natural material found in plants, can be turned into valuable chemicals. Researchers studied lignin from sugarcane waste and found it has different properties compared to other types of lignin. By heating the lignin quickly, they discovered a major chemical called 2,3-dihydrobenzofuran. Different types of lignin produce different chemicals when heated, and the temperature affects the outcome. Lower temperatures create more phenolic compounds, while higher temperatures lead to different chemical products. This information can help in creating high-value products from lignin in the future.