Ethanolysis of Kraft lignin to platform chemicals on a MoC1-x/Cu-MgAlOz, catalyst

The complete conversion of Kraft lignin is examined over a moC(1-x)/Cu-MgAlOz catalyst in pure ethanol to give value-added chemicals with small molecular weight, including C-6 alcohols, C-8-C-10 esters, benzyl alcohols and arenes, without the formation of char or tar. MoC1-x/Cu-MgAlOz exhibited much higher activity than the previously reported MoC1-x/AC, CuMgAlOy and Cu-MgAlOz catalysts and achieved the highest yield of aromatic compounds, 575 mg/g lignin, at 330 degrees C. The complete cleavage of aryl-O bonds in phenols is observed at temperatures over 300 degrees C. Furthermore, the MoC1-x/Cu-MgAlOz catalyst is reusable with a 22.4% loss in the yield of aromatic compounds after 5 cyclic runs. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.