Lignocellulosic biomass and agricultural residues that are not used for food make for a nonconventional feedstock that can be used for energy and materials applications. Development of inorganic catalysts to enable reactions with biomass derived molecules becomes an important area of research. Under mild acidic conditions in alcohol solvents such as methanol or ethanol, biomass can be fractionated into protected lignin that retains its C-O bonds, aqueous xylose solution, and a solid cellulose fraction. Earth-abundant nickel catalyst can upgrade the lignin fraction to biophenols, which are used to make polymers with recyclable properties. The cellulose stream can be converted over Ru-Mo catalysis to ethylene and propylene glycol. Mechanistic features of lignin and sugar transformations on metal catalytic sites will be highlighted.

Fractionation of biomass and upgrading of lignin and cellulose streams

2019 Fall National Meeting

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