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Title: Total Utilization of Miscanthus Biomass, Lignin and Carbohydrates, Using Earth Abundant Nickel Catalyst

Journal Article · · ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [2]
  1. Brown Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, and The Center for direct Catalytic Conversion of Biomass to Biofuels (C3Bio), Purdue University, 560 Oval Drive, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
  2. Brown Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, and The Center for direct Catalytic Conversion of Biomass to Biofuels (C3Bio), Purdue University, 560 Oval Drive, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States, School of Chemical Engineering, Purdue University, Forney Hall of Chemical Engineering, 480 Stadium Mall Drive, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
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Lignin as a polymer of monomeric aromatic compounds retains great potential to be a source for liquid fuels and valuable chemicals. However, lignin from biomass has been traditionally treated as a waste byproduct and in most applications burned for its heat value. In this work, we report the catalytic conversion of lignin in Miscanthus into aromatic products by using earth-abundant Ni catalyst supported on activated carbon, under relatively mild conditions. The special ferulate linkage in grasses gives methyl ferulate ester and its derivatives, which were not observed for wood biomass substrates. By modification of the reaction conditions, saturated or unsaturated branched products can be obtained selectively. Optimal conditions give over 68% yield of select aromatic products from lignin. Furthermore, after lignin depolymerization and upgrading, the carbohydrates of miscanthus were recovered as a solid residue, which upon treatment with iron chloride produced useful platform chemicals (furfurals and levulinic acid). On the basis of our study, all three major components of biomass (lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose) are effectively utilized, with an overall 55% conversion of total accessible biomass into high value chemicals with 98% mass balance.

Research Organization:
Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRC) (United States). Center for Direct Catalytic Conversion of Biomass to Biofuels (C3Bio); Purdue Univ., West Lafayette, IN (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
Grant/Contract Number:
SC000097; SC000997
OSTI ID:
1239695
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1387646
Journal Information:
ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, Journal Name: ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering Vol. 4 Journal Issue: 4; ISSN 2168-0485
Publisher:
American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 148 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

References (32)

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journal September 2011
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Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
Miscanthus
Lignin
Catalysis
Nickel
Ferulate
Phenolscatalysis (homogeneous)
catalysis (heterogeneous)
biofuels (including algae and biomass)
bio-inspired
materials and chemistry by design
synthesis (self-assembly)
synthesis (scalable processing)