Production of Bio-Phenols for Industrial Application: Scale-Up of the Base-Catalyzed Depolymerization of Lignin
- 1 Fraunhofer Center for Chemical-Biotechnological Processes (CBP), Leuna, Germany
- 2 Fraunhofer Center for Chemical-Biotechnological Processes (CBP), Leuna, Germany
- 3 Fraunhofer Center for Chemical-Biotechnological Processes (CBP), Leuna, Germany
- 4 Fraunhofer Center for Chemical-Biotechnological Processes (CBP), Leuna, Germany
Abstract
Objective of this study was the investigation on the up-scaling of base-catalyzed depolymerization (BCD) of lignin to pilot plant dimension. The cleavage process was carried out in dilute alkaline solution at temperatures up to 340°C and a pressure of 25 MPa in a continuously operated tubular flow reactor with throughputs up to 20 kg/h. Investigations included the proof of the feasibility of the scale-up as well as a parameter study on the cleavage of hardwood Organosolv lignin and softwood Kraft lignin within the established pilot plant. Yields and molecular compositions of the isolated product fractions BCD-oil (liquid phenolic fraction) and BCD-oligomers (solid phenolic fraction) are similar to those described in technical lab scale, showing a good scalability. Here, BCD-oils rich in phenolic monomers such as guaiacol, catechol and/or syringol were obtained with a content of up to 13.3 wt% and 14.5 wt% from Organosolv lignin and Kraft lignin, respectively. Formation of BCD-oligomers strongly depends on temperature and residence times within the reactor.
- Zakzeski, J., Bruijnincx, P.C.A., Jongerius, A.L. and Weckhuysen, B.M. (2010) The Catalytic Valorization of Lignin for the Production of Renewable Chemicals. Chemical Reviews, 110, 3552-3599. https://doi.org/10.1021/cr900354u
- Graglia, M., Kanna, N. and Esposito, D. (2015) Lignin Refinery: Towards the Preparation of Renewable Aromatic Building Blocks. ChemBioEng Reviews, 2, 377-392.
- Li, C., Zhao, X., Wang, A., Huber, G.W. and Zhang, T. (2015) Catalytic Transformation of Lignin for the Production of Chemicals and Fuels. Chemical Reviews, 115, 11559-11624. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemrev.5b00155
- Xu, C., Arancon, R.A., Labidi, J., and Luque, R. (2014) Lignin Depolymerisation Strategies: Towards Valuable Chemicals and Fuels. Chemical Society Reviews, 43, 7485-7500. https://doi.org/10.1039/C4CS00235K
- Dos Santos, P.S.B., Erdocia, X., Gatto, D.A. and Labidi, J. (2016) Bio-Oil from Base-Catalyzed Depolymerization of Organosolv Lignin as an Antifungal Agent for Wood. Wood Science and Technology, 50, 599-615. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00226-015-0795-8
- Mahmood, N., Yuan, Z., Schmidt, J. and Xu, C.(2016) Depolymerization of Lignins and Their Applications for the Preparation of Polyols and Rigid Polyurethane Foams: A Review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 60, 317-329.
- Schmiedl, D., Böringer, S., Schweppe, R. and del Río, J.C. (2014) Kraft Lignin Depolymerisation by Based Catalysed Degradation (BCB)—The Effect of Process Parameters on Conversion Degree and Structural Features of BCD-Fractions. 13th European Workshop on Lignocellulosics and Pulp, Seville.
- Zhang, Y., Ye, Y.Y., Fan, J. and Chang, J. (2013) Selective Production of Phenol, Guaiacol and 2,6-Dimethoxyphenol by Alkaline Hydrothermal Conversion of Lignin. Journal of Biobased Materials and Bioenergy, 7, 696-701. https://doi.org/10.1166/jbmb.2013.1397
- Katahira, R., Mittal, A., McKinney, K., Chen, X. Tucker, M.P., Johnson, D.K. and Beckham, G.T. (2016) Base-Catalyzed Depolymerization of Biorefinery Lignins. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 4, 1474-1486. https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.5b01451
- Schmiedl, D., Endisch, S., Pindel, E., Rückert, D., Reinhardt, S., Unkelbach, G. and Schweppe, R. (2012) Base Catalyzed Degradation of Lignin for the Generation of Oxy-Aromatic Compounds—Possibilities and Challenges. Erdöl Erdgas Kohle, 128, 357-363.
- Roberts, V.M., Stein, V., Reiner, T., Lemonidou, A., Li, X. and Lercher, J.A. (2011) Towards Quantitative Catalytic Lignin Depolymerization. Chemistry—A European Journal, 17, 5939-5948. https://doi.org/10.1002/chem.201002438