Selective cleavage of C–O bond in lignin and lignin model compounds over iron/nitrogen co-doped carbon supported Ni catalyst. (15th May 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Guo, Jia-Pei; Liu, Fang-Jing; Bie, Lei-Lei; Si, Xing-Gang; Li, Yan-Hong; Song, Ping; Liu, Nian; Zhao, Yun-Peng; Huang, Zai-Xing; Cao, Jing-Pei; Wei, Xian-Yong
• Is Part Of: Fuel. Volume 316(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-05-15
• Subjects: Lignin -- Ni@Fe/NC -- Benzyl phenyl ether -- Catalytic hydrogenolysis -- Aromatics; Fuel -- Periodicals; Coal -- Periodicals; Coal; Fuel; Periodicals; 662.6
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2022.123338
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0016-2361

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: The Ni@Fe/NC shows good activity and selectivity for cleaving C-O bond in lignin. NiFe alloy is formed in the catalyst which plays a crucial role in hydrogenolysis. Aromatics especially guaiacols are dominant products from hydrogenolysis of lignin. Possible reaction pathways based on hydrogenolysis of BPE and lignin were proposed. Abstract: The utilization of lignin to produce high value-added chemicals is conducive to alleviating the fossil energy crisis. Herein, Ni nanoparticles supported on iron/nitrogen co-doped carbon was prepared by co-pyrolysis and solvothermal reduction method for catalytic hydrogenolysis (CH) of dealkaline lignin and its model compounds. The catalysts were prepared under different calcination temperature, N/C ratio and Ni loading, and the optimal catalyst was Ni10% @Fe/NC0.33 – 800 (calcination temperature: 800 °C, N/C ratio: 0.33, Ni loading: 10%) based the on the CH of benzyl phenyl ether (BPE). Ni10% @Fe/NC0.33 – 800 showed good catalytic performance on the selective cleavage of C-O bond of lignin and its model compounds. The BPE conversion reached up to 97.7% over Ni10% @Fe/NC0.33 – 800 under mild conditions (230 °C, 1 MPa H2, and 0.5 h) with toluene and cyclohexanol as major products. Catalyst characterizations suggest that N content affects the formation of NiFe alloy and the synergistic effect between Ni and Fe plays an important role in CH of BPE. Moreover, Ni10% @Fe/NC0.33 – 800 could promote the cleavage of C-O bonds in dealkaline lignin through CH and hence enhance producing aromatics such as phenols, aromatic ethers, and aromatic esters, among which phenols are the main aromatics with guaiacols predominant.