Improved catalytic depolymerization of lignin waste using carbohydrate derivatives

Carbohydrate-: or sugar-derived compounds were used as environmentally friendly additives for the depolymerization of Kraft lignin waste and organosolv lignin prepared from Miscanthus giganteus. The yields of the aromatic monomers obtained from Kraft lignin increased from 5.1 to 49.2% with the addition of mannitol, while those obtained from organosolv lignin increased from 44.4 to 83.0% with the addition of sucrose. This improved lignin depolymerization was also confirmed by gel permeation chromatography and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The above results clearly indicate the beneficial effects of carbohydrate derivatives on the lignin depolymersization process, more specifically, suggesting that the presence of carbohydrates improve the lignin depolymerization of lignocellulose, as observed for the raw lignocellulose feed. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Carbohydrate- or sugar-derived compounds were used as environmentally friendly additives to enhance the depolymerization of Kraft lignin waste and organosolv lignin. The study showed increased yields of aromatic monomers from both types of lignin with the addition of carbohydrate derivatives, confirmed by gel permeation chromatography and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. This suggests that carbohydrates can improve the lignin depolymerization process in lignocellulose, as observed for raw lignocellulose feed.