Single-atom metal catalysts offer a promising way to utilize precious noble metal elements more effectively, provided that they are catalytically active and sufficiently stable. Herein, we report a synthetic strategy for Pt single-atom catalysts with outstanding stability in several reactions under demanding conditions. The Pt atoms are firmly anchored in the internal surface of mesoporous Al₂O₃, likely stabilized by coordinatively unsaturated pentahedral Al³⁺ centres. The catalyst keeps its structural integrity and excellent performance for the selective hydrogenation of 1,3-butadiene after exposure to a reductive atmosphere at 200 °C for 24 h. Compared to commercial Pt nanoparticle catalyst on Al₂O₃ and control samples, this system exhibits significantly enhanced stability and performance for n-hexane hydro-reforming at 550 °C for 48 h, although agglomeration of Pt single-atoms into clusters is observed after reaction. In CO oxidation, the Pt single-atom identity was fully maintained after 60 cycles between 100 and 400 °C over a one-month period.

Despite the enormous research efforts in recent years regarding lignin depolymerisation and functionalisation, few commercial products are available. This review provides a summary and viewpoint of extensive research in the lignin-to-product valorisation chain, with an emphasis on downstream processing of lignin derived feedstock into end products. It starts with an introduction of available platform chemicals and polymeric derivatives generated from lignin via existing depolymerisation and functionalisation technologies. Following that, detailed analyses of various strategies for the downstream processing of lignin derived platform chemicals and materials into fuels, valued-added chemicals and functional polymers are provided. A concise techno-economic analysis of various downstream processes is conducted based on the market demand of the end product, economic potential and technological readiness, enabling the identification of processes that are potentially both economically competitive and commercially feasible, and shedding light on processes which deserve further technological development. We wish this review will stimulate further advances in the sustainable production of value-added products from lignin to integrate this invaluable “bio-waste” into the chemical/materials supply chain.

A highly efficient, stable NiAu catalyst that exhibits unprecedented low temperature activity in lignin hydrogenolysis was for the first time developed, leading to the formation of 14 wt% aromatic monomers from organosolv lignin at 170 °C in pure water.