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Oxidative depolymerization of lignins for producing aromatics: variation of botanical origin and extraction methods

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Abstract

Several lignin samples of varying botanical nature (softwood, hardwood, or annual plants) and extraction procedures (Kraft, Organosolv, or soda) were fully characterized by complementary techniques and engaged in “catalyst-free” depolymerization in air under basic conditions. Treatment of the complex reaction mixture was optimized to ensure reproducibility, careful analyses, and accurate data. After an optimization of the reaction conditions, we were able to recover high amounts of aromatic compounds (up to 19%wt). Additionally, we demonstrated a relation between lignin’s structure, i.e., the accessible phenol moieties and inter-unit linkages, and the yields of aromatic compounds, thus showing the importance of the extraction process to optimize lignin’s potential. This work provides valuable reference for developing further lignin depolymerization under basic media.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank C. Lorentz for her help with the NMR analyses. The authors thank AXELERA, cluster for the chemical and environmental sectors, for support.

Funding

The authors gratefully acknowledge the National Agency of Research (CHEMLIVAL No. ANR-12-CDII-0001_01) for funding. C. C. A. thanks the National Agency of Research (CHEMLIVAL No. ANR-12-CDII-0001_01) for grant. A. K. thanks GDRI (International Research Network) “Catalytic upgrading of Biomass” for grant.

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  1. Pascal Fongarland

    Present address: Laboratoire de Génie des Procédés Catalytiques, UMR 5285, CNRS, CPE, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 43, bd du 11 novembre 1918, B.P. 82077, 69616, Villeurbanne Cedex, France

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, IRCELYON, UMR 5256, Université de Lyon, 2 avenue Albert Einstein, F-69626, Villeurbanne Cedex, France

    Cédric Cabral Almada, Aleksandr Kazachenko, Pascal Fongarland & Laurent Djakovitch

  2. Siberian Federal University, Krasnoyarsk, 660041, Russia

    Aleksandr Kazachenko & Boris N. Kuznetsov

  3. Institut technologique FCBA - Pôle Nouveaux Matériaux, Domaine Universitaire, CS 90251, 38044, Grenoble Cedex 9, France

    Denilson Da Silva Perez

  4. Institute of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Siberian Branch, Krasnoyarsk, 660036, Russia

    Boris N. Kuznetsov

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Characterization of lignins (1H NMR, 13C NMR, 31P NMR, and HSQC NMR spectra); General information for the depolymerization of lignins under oxidative conditions in the absence of catalyst and associated analytical data as HSQC NMR spectra. (DOCX 7584 kb).

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Cabral Almada, C., Kazachenko, A., Fongarland, P. et al. Oxidative depolymerization of lignins for producing aromatics: variation of botanical origin and extraction methods. Biomass Conv. Bioref. 12, 3795–3808 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-020-00897-6

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