Application of Lignin-Derived Carbon Materials in Adsorption and Separation

In the context of sustainable human development and the depletion of petroleum resources, lignin has received widespread attention as a carbon-rich, low-cost, and renewable resource. Owing to their distinctive physical and chemical properties, carbon materials are extensively applied in the fields of adsorption and separation. The conversion of lignin into diverse multifunctional carbon materials, such as porous carbon, activated carbon, carbon fibers, carbon foams, and carbon aerogels, has emerged as a pivotal strategy for the high-value utilization of lignin. In this paper, representative examples of various lignin-based carbon materials utilized in the field of adsorption and separation over the past decade are reviewed and categorized according to the type of carbon materials, and their preparation methods and adsorption effects are described.