High Acid Biochar-Based Solid Acid Catalyst from Corn Stalk for Lignin Hydrothermal Degradation

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Catalysis
• Biomass Conversion

Background:

• Solid acid catalysts often suffer from limited acid sites and poor recyclability.
• Developing sustainable and efficient alternatives is crucial for various chemical processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize high-performance solid acid catalysts from corn stalk.
• To investigate their efficacy in lignin degradation and aromatic compound generation.

Main Methods:

• Corn stalk was processed via carbonization and sulfonation to create biochar-based catalysts.
• Catalyst properties like surface area and acid site density were characterized.
• Lignin degradation experiments were conducted using the synthesized catalysts.

Main Results:

• Catalysts exhibited high specific surface areas (1120–1640 m²/g) and significant acid amounts (1.2–2.4 mmol/g).
• Optimized catalysts (800°C carbonization, 150°C sulfonation) showed enhanced performance.
• Lignin degradation yielded 65.6 wt.% aromatic compounds, compared to 40.5 wt.% without catalyst.
• Catalyst maintained 85% yield after four reuse cycles.

Conclusions:

• Corn stalk is a viable precursor for high-value, high-acid biochar-based catalysts.
• The developed catalysts offer a sustainable solution for lignin valorization.
• The catalysts demonstrate potential for industrial applications due to their efficiency and reusability.