Methods of depolymerizing lignin
AssigneeWisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
InventorsShannon Stahl, Hao Luo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods of depolymerizing lignin and products obtained therefrom. The methods include reacting lignin in a liquid solvent comprising an oxidation catalyst with the solvent being in contact with O2 gas. The solvent can include aprotic polar solvents. The oxidation catalyst can include heterogeneous catalysts. The methods can be used in the oxidative catalytic fractionation of raw biomass to generate soluble aromatic monomers and a solid carbohydrate residue. Depolymerized lignin products include phenolic and benzoquinone monomers, such as p-hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillin, syringaldehyde, vanillic acid, and/or syringic acid.
Claims33
A method of depolymerizing lignin, the method comprising reacting in a liquid solvent lignocellulosic biomass and an oxidation catalyst with the solvent being in contact with gas comprising O2 gas, wherein the lignocellulosic biomass comprises the lignin and at least one of cellulose and hemicellulose.
A method of depolymerizing lignin, the method comprising reacting in a liquid solvent the lignin and an oxidation catalyst with the solvent being in contact with gas comprising O2 gas, wherein the solvent is selected from the group consisting of acetone, acetonitrile, and a combination thereof.
A method of depolymerizing lignin, the method comprising reacting in a liquid solvent the lignin and an oxidation catalyst with the solvent being in contact with gas comprising O2 gas, wherein the oxidation catalyst comprises a metal-containing nitrogen-doped carbon catalyst.
A method of depolymerizing lignin, the method comprising reacting in a liquid solvent lignocellulosic biomass and an oxidation catalyst with the solvent being in contact with gas comprising O2 gas, wherein the lignocellulosic biomass comprises the lignin and has not been treated with any one or more of chemical pretreatment and physicochemical pretreatment.
A method of depolymerizing lignin, the method comprising:
- reacting in a liquid solvent the lignin and an oxidation catalyst with the solvent being in contact with gas comprising O2 gas;
- and
- after the reacting, separating a carbohydrate residue produced during the reacting from the solvent.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.