Fractionation of Lignocellulosic Biomass over Core–Shell Ni@Al2O3 Catalysts with Formic Acid as a Cocatalyst and Hydrogen Source. Issue 8 (14th March 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Park, Jaeyong; Riaz, Asim; Verma, Deepak; Lee, Hyun Jeong; Woo, Han Min; Kim, Jaehoon
• Is Part Of: ChemSusChem. Volume 12:Issue 8(2019)
• Page Start: 1743
• Page End: 1762
• Publication Date: 2019-03-14
• Subjects: biomass -- biorefineries -- heterogeneous catalysis -- lignin -- nickel; Green chemistry -- Periodicals; Sustainable engineering -- Periodicals; Chemistry -- Periodicals; Chemical engineering -- Periodicals; 660
• DOI: 10.1002/cssc.201802847
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1864-5631

Abstract

Abstract: Highly dispersed, core–shell Ni@Al2 O3 on activated carbon (AC) catalysts were prepared to develop an effective, external‐hydrogen‐free fractionation process for various types of lignocellulosic biomass. In a mixture of formic acid, ethanol, and water at 190 °C, the conversion of oak wood produced 23.4 C% lignin‐derived phenolic monomers (LDPMs) and highly delignified pulp‐rich solid. At an early stage, formic acid acted as a cocatalyst to enhance the delignification by solvolysis, and at a later stage, it acted as a hydrogen source to stabilize the phenolic monomers by hydrodeoxygenation and hydrogenation. Based on the positive correlation between spillover hydrogen on the catalysts and LDPM yields, a new suite of catalyst design criteria was proposed to develop highly active, non‐noble‐metal based catalysts for realizing economically viable biorefineries. Enzymatic saccharification of the pulp‐rich solid indicated that the pulp‐rich solid is an excellent source of fermentable sugars. Abstract : Built to spill : Highly dispersed, core–shell Ni@Al2 O3 on activated carbon (AC) catalysts were prepared for external‐hydrogen‐free reductive catalytic fractionation (RCF) of lignocellulosic biomass. Based on the positive correlation between spillover hydrogen on the Ni@Al2 O3 /AC catalysts and lignin‐derived phenolic monomer yields, new catalyst design criteria were proposed to develop highly active, non‐noble metal‐based RCF catalysts.