Alumina supported molybdenum catalyst for lignin valorization: Effect of reduction temperature

Alumina supported molybdenum catalysts were prepared with an impregnation method. The activity of the catalyst in the ethanolysis of Kraft lignin to C6-C11 molecules, i.e. alcohols, esters, monophenols, benzyl alcohols and arenes, was tested in a batch reactor at 280 °C with initial 0 MPa nitrogen. The complete conversion of lignin to small molecular chemicals was achieved without the formation of tar or char. The reduction temperature during the catalyst preparation was proved to have a profound effect on the activity of the catalyst. The overall product yield firstly increases and then decreases with the increase of the reduction temperature in a range of 500-800 °C. The maximum yield up to 1390 mg/g lignin was obtained with the catalyst reduced at 750 °C. Furthermore, the catalyst showed an excellent recyclability, where no significant loss of the catalytic activity was exhibited after 5 runs.