Controlled hydrogenolysis over heterogeneous catalysts for lignin valorization

ABSTRACT

Aromatic monomers from controlled lignin depolymerization are a possible valorization of biomass lignin-residues generated in cellulosic biorefineries and in current pulp and paper industries. Among different lignin depolymerization approaches, selective catalytic hydrogenolysis is a potential pathway for lignin conversion into desired aromatics. This review provides a summary of recent work on reductive hydrogenolysis over heterogeneous catalysts aimed at: i) inter-unit ether linkage cleavage, ii) formulation of active catalysts, and iii) hydrogenolysis of native lignins and aromatic product distribution.

KEYWORDS:

• Hydrogenolysis
• lignin
• lignin model compound
• heterogeneous catalyst

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the R&D Program of the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy (MOTIE)/Korea Evaluation Institute of Industrial Technology (KEIT) (Project No. 10049675). This research was also supported by the C1 Gas Refinery Program (2015M3D3A1A01064882) and the Basic Science Research Program (2017R1A2B4007648) through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT.