Lignin depolymerization over Ni/C catalyst in methanol, a continuation: effect of substrate and catalyst loading

Conversion of lignin to fuels and chemicals is a significant challenge given the intrinsic heterogeneity of lignin. Towards development of selective processes for lignin depolymerization, herein we further expand on a catalytic system, Ni/C in methanol, for the conversion of wood lignin into methoxypropylphenols (Song et al., Energy Environ. Sci., 2013, 6, 994-1007). We find that the product spectrum and yield vary significantly across catalyst loading and biomass type and origin. Poplar and eucalyptus result in lower monomer yields than those found for birch. These results suggest that catalytic systems for selective lignin depolymerization must carefully consider the nature of the substrate to achieve high yields of individual, upgradeable products.