Further work should focus on continuous flow electrochemical
reactors with an eye toward process economics, which was beyond
the scope of this work. Those efforts should account for the energy
consumption of the electrochemical cell, as well as the cost of
separating or purifying oxidation products, if applicable. Such an
economic analysis should account for the value of the oxidation
products versus the intrinsic value of lignin used in competing
processes, such as to generate process heat, and should integrate
the electrochemical reactor into the pulping mill or biorefinery
concept.