TY - JOUR
T1 - Unraveling the reaction mechanism of selective C9 monomeric phenols formation from lignin using Pd-Al2O3-activated biochar catalyst
AU - Gurrala, Lakshmiprasad
AU - Midhun Kumar, M
AU - Yerrayya, Attada
AU - Kandasamy, Prabu
AU - Castaño, Pedro
AU - Raja, T
AU - Pilloni, Giovanni
AU - Paek, Changyub
AU - Vinu, R
N1 - KAUST Repository Item: Exported on 2021-11-29
Acknowledgements: The corresponding author thanks ExxonMobil Research and Engineering (EMRE), U.S.A., for the research funding to IIT Madras. The authors thank KAUST Supercomputing Laboratory (KSL) for providing the supercomputing resources. The National Center for Combustion Research and Development at IIT Madras is funded by Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India.
PY - 2021/10/28
Y1 - 2021/10/28
N2 - The conversion of biomass-derived lignin to valuable monomeric phenols at high selectivity is of paramount importance for sustainable biorefineries. In this study, a novel Pd-Al2O3 supported on activated biochar catalyst is developed for lignin hydrogenolysis. The catalyst characterization revealed that the (1 1 1) planes of both of Pd0 and Al2O3 were exposed to the surface. The maximum lignin conversion of 70.4% along with high liquid yield (∼57 wt%) was obtained at 240 °C, 3 h and 3 MPa H2 pressure. The total monomeric phenols yield in the liquid was 51.6 wt%, out of which C9 monomeric guaiacols constituted ∼ 30.0 wt% with 38.0% selectivity to 4-propyl guaiacol. Using the reaction intermediate, coniferyl alcohol, chemoselective hydrogenation of Cα=Cβ is proved to occur over the Pd site, while dehydroxylation of Cγ–OH is shown to occur over the alumina site. An impressive carbon atom economy of 60% was achieved for the production of monomeric phenols.
AB - The conversion of biomass-derived lignin to valuable monomeric phenols at high selectivity is of paramount importance for sustainable biorefineries. In this study, a novel Pd-Al2O3 supported on activated biochar catalyst is developed for lignin hydrogenolysis. The catalyst characterization revealed that the (1 1 1) planes of both of Pd0 and Al2O3 were exposed to the surface. The maximum lignin conversion of 70.4% along with high liquid yield (∼57 wt%) was obtained at 240 °C, 3 h and 3 MPa H2 pressure. The total monomeric phenols yield in the liquid was 51.6 wt%, out of which C9 monomeric guaiacols constituted ∼ 30.0 wt% with 38.0% selectivity to 4-propyl guaiacol. Using the reaction intermediate, coniferyl alcohol, chemoselective hydrogenation of Cα=Cβ is proved to occur over the Pd site, while dehydroxylation of Cγ–OH is shown to occur over the alumina site. An impressive carbon atom economy of 60% was achieved for the production of monomeric phenols.
UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10754/673791
UR - https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0960852421015467
U2 - 10.1016/j.biortech.2021.126204
DO - 10.1016/j.biortech.2021.126204
M3 - Article
C2 - 34710595
SN - 0960-8524
SP - 126204
JO - Bioresource technology
JF - Bioresource technology
ER -