Nanolignin: extraction methodologies and their impact assessment

The ability to bring a material at its nanoscale has shown great potential in overwhelming significant obstacles in numerous fields. Because of its abundance, biodegradability, renewability, and eco-friendly nature, lignin has become an ideal precursor for producing nanoscale materials from both research and industrial communities. Nanolignin, also known as colloidal lignin particle or lignin nanoparticle (LNP), produced via several precipitation and nonprecipitation techniques, has received noteworthy interest in recent years and its production and application in numerous fields represent an important aspect of lignin valorization. In spite of being extensively studied, LNPs, as well as their derived materials with controlled shape and architecture, are still largely underexploited; additionally, little information can be found on the environmental and socioeconomic impact assessment of their production. This book chapter mainly covers recent advances in the preparation of LNPs and their overall environmental/economic impact behind their preparation and use.