Phenolic-Based Chemical Production from Catalytic Depolymerization of Alkaline Lignin over Fumed Silica Catalyst

Authors: S. Totong, P. Daorattanachai, N. Laosiripojana

Abstract:

Lignin depolymerization into phenolic-based chemicals is an interesting process for utilizing and upgrading a benefit and value of lignin. In this study, the depolymerization reaction was performed to convert alkaline lignin into smaller molecule compounds. Fumed SiO₂ was used as a catalyst to improve catalytic activity in lignin decomposition. The important parameters in depolymerization process (i.e., reaction temperature, reaction time, etc.) were also investigated. In addition, gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC-MS), flame-ironized detector (GC-FID), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) were used to analyze and characterize the lignin products. It was found that fumed SiO₂ catalyst led the good catalytic activity in lignin depolymerization. The main products from catalytic depolymerization were guaiacol, syringol, vanillin, and phenols. Additionally, metal supported on fumed SiO₂ such as Cu/SiO₂ and Ni/SiO₂ increased the catalyst activity in terms of phenolic products yield.

Keywords: Alkaline lignin, catalytic, depolymerization, fumed SiO2, phenolic-based chemicals.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI): doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3607809

References:

[1] Kleinert, M., and Barth, T. (2008). Phenols from lignin. Chemical Engineering & Technology, 31(5), 736-745.
[2] Zakzeski, J., Bruijnincx, P. C., Jongerius, A. L., & Weckhuysen, B. M. (2010). The catalytic valorization of lignin for the production of renewable chemicals. Chemical reviews, 110(6), 3552-3599.
[3] Gardner, D. J., Schultz, T. P., and McGinnis, G. D. (1985). The pyrolytic behavior of selected lignin preparations, Journal of wood Chemistry and Technology, 5(1), 85-110.
[4] Windt, M., Meier, D., Marsman, J. H., Heeres, H. J., and de Koning, S. (2009). Micro-pyrolysis of technical lignins in a new modular rig and product analysis by GC–MS/FID and GC×GC-TOFMS/FID, Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis, 85(1), 38-46.
[5] Saisu, M., Sato, T., Watanabe, M., Adschiri, T., and Arai, K. (2003). Conversion of lignin with supercritical water-phenol mixtures, Energy & Fuels, 17(4), 922-928.
[6] Sricharoenchaikul, V. (2009). Assessment of black liquor gasification in supercritical water, Bioresource technology, 100(2), 638-643.
[7] Elliott, D. C., Hallen, R. T., and Sealock, L. J. (1984). Alkali catalysis in biomass gasification, Journal of analytical and applied pyrolysis, 6(3), 299-316.
[8] Villar, J. C., Caperos, A., and Garcia-Ochoa, F. (2001). Oxidation of hardwood kraft-lignin to phenolic derivatives with oxygen as oxidant, Wood Science and Technology, 35(3), 245-255.
[9] Soled, S. (2015). Silica-supported catalysts get a new breath of life. Science, 350(6265), 1171-1172.
[10] Armor, J. N., & Zambri, P. M. (1982). Silica as an oxidation catalyst. Journal of Catalysis, 73(1), 57-65.
[11] Ye, Y., Zhang, Y., Fan, J., Chang, J. (2012). Novel method for production of phenolics by combining lignin extraction with lignin depolymerization in aqueous ethanol. Industrial & engineering chemistry research, 51, 103-110.
[12] He, J., Zhao, C., & Lercher, J. A. (2012). Ni-catalyzed cleavage of aryl ethers in the aqueous phase. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 134(51), 20768-20775.
[13] Jeong, S., Yang, S., & Kim, D. H. (2017). Depolymerization of Protobind lignin to produce monoaromatic compounds over Cu/ZSM-5 catalyst in supercritical ethanol. Molecular Catalysis, 442, 140-146.