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Updated: Feb 27, 2026

Fractionation of Lignocellulosic Biomass using the OrganoCat Process
Published on: June 5, 2021
Selective oxidation of lignocellulosic biomass to formic acid and high-grade cellulose using tailor-made
1Lehrstuhl für Chemische Reaktionstechnik der Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Egerlandstrasse 3, D-91058 Erlangen, Germany. jakob.albert@fau.de.
Abstract:
The main goal of this project was to identify and optimize tailor-made polyoxometalate catalysts for a fractionated oxidation of lignocellulosic biomass (i.e. wood and residues from sugar or paper industries) to produce formic acid (FA) and high-grade cellulose for further processing e.g. in white biotechnology to provide bio-ethanol. Homogeneous vanadium precursors like sodium metavanadate and vanadyl sulfate as well as Keggin-type polyoxometalates (POMs) and more exotic structures like Anderson-, Wells-Dawson- and Lindqvist-type POMs were screened for the desired catalytic performance. The most promising behaviour was found using the Lindqvist-type POM K5V3W3O19, showing for the first time in the literature a selective oxidation of only hemicellulose and lignin to formic acid, while the cellulose fraction was untrapped. However, this can only be a first step towards the project goal as low product yields were obtained.
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