Solid Base CaO Catalyzed Methanolysis of Lignite

Solid base CaO was prepared and characterized, which was used to catalyze depolymerization of lignite in supercritical methanol. Methanolysis products were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results showed that the solubility of methanolysis products in organic solvent increased, the majority species of methanolysis products were aliphatic hydrocarbon and oxygenated compounds such as alkyl substitution phenol. CaO can catalyze selective depolymerization of lignite with the reaction of cleavage of ether bond under given condition.