{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,28]],"date-time":"2026-09-28T22:45:55Z","timestamp":1790635555324,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":50,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"9","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,26]],"date-time":"2025-08-26T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1756166400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"University Clermont Auvergne (UCA), France"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Biomolecules"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Corncobs, produced globally at over 200 million tons annually with 11\u201318% lignin content, represent an abundant and underexploited lignocellulosic resource for sustainable lignin valorization. In this study, two distinct extraction methodologies, alkaline treatment using sodium hydroxide and an organosolv process with a 50:50 ethanol\/water mixture, were systematically compared for their efficiency in isolating lignin from corncobs. Both protocols achieved high yields, up to 82% for alkaline and 84% for organosolv extraction under optimized conditions. The resulting lignins displayed notable differences in chemical structure and physical properties, as revealed by spectroscopic and thermal analyses, highlighting their divergent potential for downstream applications. To evaluate the suitability of these lignins to biocatalytic upgrading, post-extraction enzymatic treatment was performed using Pycnoporus cinnabarinus laccase (EC 1.10.3.2). Significant structural modifications were observed in alkaline-extracted lignin, as determined by FTIR spectroscopy, while organosolv lignin remained largely unaltered, a difference attributed to its lower aqueous solubility at the enzyme\u2019s optimal pH. These results demonstrate the critical impact of extraction conditions on lignin reactivity and suitability for enzymatic tailoring. This work underscores the potential for holistic corncob valorization within integrated biorefinery frameworks. Selective extraction and targeted enzymatic modification not only facilitate efficient by-product utilization but also expand the prospects for producing versatile bio-based materials, thereby advancing the transition toward a sustainable, circular bioeconomy.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/biom15091226","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,26]],"date-time":"2025-08-26T10:35:17Z","timestamp":1756204517000},"page":"1226","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":5,"title":["From Corncob By-Product to Functional Lignins: Comparative Analysis of Alkaline and Organosolv Extraction Followed by Laccase Treatment"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"15","author":[{"given":"Elise","family":"Martin","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Clermont Auvergne INP, CNRS, Institut Pascal, Universit\u00e9 Clermont Auvergne, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7776-930X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Swarnima","family":"Agnihotri","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Swedish Centre for Resource Recovery, Faculty of Textiles, Engineering and Business, University of Bor\u00e5s, 503 32 Bor\u00e5s, Sweden"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3235-6397","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Fabrice","family":"Audonnet","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clermont Auvergne INP, CNRS, Institut Pascal, Universit\u00e9 Clermont Auvergne, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7545-9997","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Eric","family":"Record","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"INRAE, Aix-Marseille Universit\u00e9, UMR1163 Biodiversit\u00e9 et Biotechnologie Fongiques, 13288 Marseille, France"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Pascal","family":"Dubessay","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clermont Auvergne INP, CNRS, Institut Pascal, Universit\u00e9 Clermont Auvergne, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4887-2433","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mohammad J.","family":"Taherzadeh","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Swedish Centre for Resource Recovery, Faculty of Textiles, Engineering and Business, University of Bor\u00e5s, 503 32 Bor\u00e5s, Sweden"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6677-4549","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Philippe","family":"Michaud","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clermont Auvergne INP, CNRS, Institut Pascal, Universit\u00e9 Clermont Auvergne, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,26]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"465","DOI":"10.1016\/j.biortech.2018.08.065","article-title":"Lignin valorization for the production of renewable chemicals: State-of-the-art review and future prospects","volume":"269","author":"Cao","year":"2018","journal-title":"Bioresour. 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