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In recent years, lignin valorization has gained upward momentum owing to advances in both plant bioengineering and catalytic processing of lignin. In this new horizon, catalysis is now applied to the 'pulping process' itself, creating efficient methods for lignocellulose fractionation or deconstruction (here referred to as Catalytic Upstream Biorefining or 'CUB'). These processes render, together with delignified pulps, lignin streams of low molecular weight (M w ) and low molecular diversity. Recently, we introduced a CUB process based on Early-stage Catalytic Conversion of Lignin (ECCL) through H-transfer reactions catalyzed by RANEY® Ni. This approach renders a lignin stream obtained as a viscous oil, comprising up to 60 wt% monophenolic compounds (M w < 250 Da). The remaining oil fraction (40 wt%) is mainly composed of lignin oligomers, and as minor products, holocellulose-derived polyols and lignin-derived species of high M w (0.25-2 kDa). Simultaneously, the process yields a holocellulose pulp with a low content of residual lignin (<5 wt%). Despite the efficiency of aqueous solutions of 2-propanol as a solvent for lignin fragments and an H-donor, there is scant information regarding the CUB process carried out in the presence of primary alcohols, which often inhibit the catalytic activity of RANEY® Ni, as revealed in model compound studies performed at low temperature. Considering the composition of the lignin oils obtained from CUB based on ECCL, the processes commonly render ortho-(di)methoxy-4-propylphenol derivatives with a varied degree of defunctionalization of the propyl side chain. In this contribution, we present the role of the alcohol solvent (methanol or 2-propanol) and Ni catalyst (Ni/C or RANEY® Ni) in control over selectivity of phenolic products. The current results indicate that solvent effects on the catalytic processes could hold the key for improving control over the degree of functionalization of the propyl side-chain in the lignin oil obtained from CUB, offering new avenues for lignin valorization at the extraction step.

Finding a workaround: The conversion of lignin into low-boiling-point arenes instead of high-boiling-point phenols could greatly facilitate conventional refinery processes. A new procedure for the depolymerization of lignin and simultaneous conversion phenols into arenes is described. The method can also be rendered as a fundamental finding for the upgrade of bio-oils to arenes under mild conditions., (Copyright © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

A simple and efficient hydrodeoxygenation strategy is described to selectively generate and separate high-value alkylphenols from pyrolysis bio-oil, produced directly from lignocellulosic biomass. The overall process is efficient and only requires low pressures of hydrogen gas (5 bar). Initially, an investigation using model compounds indicates that MoC x/C is a promising catalyst for targeted hydrodeoxygenation, enabling selective retention of the desired Ar−OH substituents. By applying this procedure to pyrolysis bio-oil, the primary products (phenol/4-alkylphenols and hydrocarbons) are easily separable from each other by short-path column chromatography, serving as potential valuable feedstocks for industry. The strategy requires no prior fractionation of the lignocellulosic biomass, no further synthetic steps, and no input of additional (e.g., petrochemical) platform molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) is an attractive route for the upgrading of bio-oils produced from lignocellulose. Current catalysts require harsh conditions to effect HDO, decreasing the process efficiency in terms of energy and carbon balance. Herein we report a novel and facile method for synthesizing bimetallic PtCo nanoparticle catalysts (ca. 1.5 nm) highly dispersed in the framework of nitrogen-doped ordered mesoporous carbon (NOMC) for this reaction. We demonstrate that NOMC with either 2D hexagonal ( p6 m) or 3D cubic ( Im [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We recently introduced catalytic upstream biorefining, a fractionation process performed on whole lignocellulosic materials, based on the early-stage conversion of lignin by hydrogen-transfer reactions (using Raney Ni as the catalyst and 2-PrOH as a hydrogen-donor). The process fractionates lignocellulose, isolating lignin as an extensively depolymerised oil, opening up new avenues in the catalytic upgrading of bio-derived phenolic streams to chemicals and fuels. In addition, highly delignified holocellulose pulps are obtained, holding potential as a feedstock for the production of paper, chemicals, and biofuels. Herein, we report our first results on the chemistry underlying this process under nearly neutral to slightly alkaline conditions achieved by the addition of inorganic bases. This report sheds light on the influence of hemicellulose sugars on the product distribution obtained from the early-stage catalytic conversion of lignin oligomers released from lignocellulose. The increase in the pH value of the medium suppressed the hydrolysis of xylans. As a result, a dramatic increase in the xylans retention from 10 % (at pH 4.5) up to 60 % (at pH>7.5) was achieved. Interestingly, the pH value of the liquor did not affect the delignification extent of lignocellulose or the absolute content of glucans retained in the holocellulose. By enhancing xylans retention, we provide evidence that hemicellulose sugars decrease the activity of Raney Ni towards full hydrogenation of the aromatic species composing the lignin stream. In fact, the yield of selected cyclohexanols increases from 0.8 % (no added bases) to 4.4 % (added NaOH), whereas the yield of selected phenols decreases from 12.9 % (no added bases) to 7.2 % (added NaOH). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Finding a workaround: The conversion of lignin into low‐boiling‐point arenes instead of high‐boiling‐point phenols could greatly facilitate conventional refinery processes. A new procedure for the depolymerization of lignin and simultaneous conversion phenols into arenes is described. The method can also be rendered as a fundamental finding for the upgrade of bio‐oils to arenes under mild conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]