Journal
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
Volume 2011, Issue 27, Pages 5246-5249Publisher
WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH
DOI: 10.1002/ejoc.201101015
Keywords
Heterogeneous catalysis; Sustainable chemistry; Reduction; Biomass; Bulk chemicals
Categories
Funding
- Smart Mix Program of the Netherlands
- Ministry of Economic Affairs
- Netherlands Ministry of Education, Culture and Science
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We present and develop alternative catalysts for biomass conversion and specifically lignin conversion into aromatics. Unlike the conventional CoMo and NiMo formulations, our catalysts can convert low-sulfur feedstocks. A set of five magnesia-alumina mixed oxides were screened in the hydrodealkylation of alkyl phenyl ethers as lignin model compounds. The typical selectivity to phenol is 30-75%. Interestingly, we saw that the more basic the catalyst, the higher the selectivity for phenol. The results concur with the formation of phenoxide (PhO-) and RH3+ fragments on the catalyst surface. These can then react with H+ and H- species formed by the hydrogen dissociation on the MgO surface, giving phenol and hydrocarbons. We conclude that magnesia-alumina mixed oxides are attractive candidates for catalyzing lignin breakdown. These catalysts are highly stable, inexpensive, and readily available.
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