Catalytic oxidation methods provide a valuable complement to reductive methods for fractionation of biomass and lignin depolymerization. Some of the oxygenated products of these methods have direct market value (vanillin, para-hydroxybenzoic acid), but all represent appealing targets for new market opportunities, for example, as precursor to biobased plastics and plasticizers. This talk will highlight recent advances in the development of catalyst systems and aerobic oxidation methods that afford high yields of oxygenated products. Two different approaches will be highlighted:<br/>(a) Oxidative catalytic fractionation, in which raw biomass (e.g., poplar wood chips) is subjected to aerobic oxidation conditions in an organic solvent containing a heterogeneous non-precious-metal "M-N-C" catalyst, composed of Co, Fe, or other metal ions integrated within a nitrogen-doped carbon support. These conditions convert the lignin into a mixture of aromatic monomers in one step from biomass, while also affording high-quality sugars.<br/>(b) Oxidative alkaline depolymerization of process lignin, in which lignin is dissolved under basic conditions and treated at high temperatures in the presence of oxygen gas and (typically) dissolved metal-ion catalysts. A continuous-flow process compatible with large scale application will be presented.<br/>Both approaches have been paired with centrifugal partition chromatography to enable separation and purification of the aromatic chemicals derived from these processes. This talk will emphasize the catalytic processes as the strategic basis for production of valuable purified chemicals from lignin.

Catalytic methods for aerobic oxidative fractionation of biomass and lignin depolymerization

ACS Spring 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.