Electrochemical oxidative valorization of lignin by the nanostructured PbO2/MWNTs electrocatalyst in a low-energy depolymerization process

In this study, we have investigated the application of the non-precious beta-PbO2 /MWNTs nanocomposites, which were developed via a simple wet-chemistry procedure, toward electrochemical oxidation of lignin. Structural characterization of the synthesized electrocatalysts was performed through X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and BET surface area analysis. Cyclic voltammetry (CV), linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), and chronoamperometry (ChA) measurements were carried out to evaluate and compare the performance of different electrocatalysts toward lignin oxidation. The 33.3 wt% beta-PbO2 nanocomposite possessed the highest electro-catalytic activity and stability for depolymerization of lignin. Several oxidation products such as vanillin and methyl salicylate were also identified by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GS-MS) analysis. The enhanced electrochemical surfaces areas of the low-cost beta-PbO2/MWNTs electrocatalyst combined with its good stabilities offer a promising route for developing an energy-efficient lignin depolymerization process. [GRAPHICS] .

Automated summary

This study investigates the application of non-precious beta-PbO2/MWNTs nanocomposites in the electrochemical oxidation of lignin, demonstrating their high catalytic activity and stability. Structural characterization and gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy analysis were conducted to evaluate the performance of the synthesized electrocatalysts, showing promising potential for an energy-efficient lignin depolymerization process.