Lignin enzyme

Source: New artificial enzyme breaks down tough, woody lignin: Study shows promise for developing a new renewable energy source

Reporting in the journal Nature Communications, a team of researchers from Washington State University and the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory showed that their artificial enzyme succeeded in digesting lignin, which has stubbornly resisted previous attempts to develop it into an economically useful energy source.
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Our bio-mimicking enzyme showed promise in degrading real lignin, which is considered to be a breakthrough," said Xiao Zhang, a corresponding author on the paper and associate professor in WSU's Gene and Linda Voiland School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering. Zhang also holds a joint appointment at PNNL. "We think there is an opportunity to develop a new class of catalysts and to really address the limitations of biological and chemical catalysts."
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In nature, fungi and bacteria are able to break down lignin with their enzymes, which is how a mushroom-covered log decomposes in the forest. Enzymes offer a much more environmentally benign process than chemical degradation, which requires high heat and consumes more energy than it produces.
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This is fascinating although it is just as likely to make 'green' fuel. In reality, there should be a fascinating array of chemical feedstocks for material purposes.

Bob Wilson