Lignin has long been recognized as a potential feedstock for the sustainable production of fuels and bulk chemicals and drawn a tremendous attention in chemistry, biology and engineering disciplines. This work achieves in a complete depolymerization of Kraft lignin to value-added small molecular compounds in supercritical ethanol with a nano molybdenum carbide catalyst. A maximum yield of 1.64 g/g lignin is achieved. The products consist of C6 to C10 esters, alcohols, arenes, phenols, and benzyl alcohols, which is quite different from conventional depolymerization products. The solvent molecules are combined into the products. The product molecules are all value-added basic intermediates in fine chemicals industry.

Fully catalytic ethanolysis of kraft lignin into high valued small molecular chemicals over a nano molybdenum carbide catalyst

247th National Meeting (2014)

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