Elisabeth K. Oehl presented the following abstract as a scientific poster at Electrochemistry 2022 conference, held in Berlin, September 27 – 30.
Lignin as potential sustainable and renewable feedstock for aromatic fine chemicals and fuels
E. K. Oehl, Mainz/DE, S. R. Waldvogel, Mainz/DE
Lignin is a renewable biopolymer with a polyphenolic structure that represents a major proportion of plant-derived biomass. It accumulates as a waste material of the paper and pulping industries. The combustion of lignin produces increasing amounts of CO2, which is why the selective degradation to sensible monomers that can be used for other applications should be pushed towards. The group of Professor Waldvogel successfully developed various pathways for the electrochemical conversion of raw biomaterials originating from lignin to high value chemicals like vanillin, acetovanillone and guaiacol under mild conditions. For example, vanillin was electrochemically obtained in high selectivity with 67%[1] efficiency compared to the common nitrobenzene oxidation.
Black liquor, pyrolysis oils derived from lignin and electrochemically depolymerized lignin also have great potential as feedstocks for a possible biofuel. Within the EBIO project, research focuses not only on oxidative and thermal degradation of lignin but also on the electrochemical reduction. It offers a promising route towards the sustainable production of biofuels that will find industrial application in the future.
[1] M. Zirbes, L. L. Quadri, M. Breiner, A. Stenglein, A. Bomm, W. Schade, S. R. Waldvogel, ACS Sustainable Chem. Eng. 2020, 8, 7300–7307. The full post can be downloaded here.