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Updated: Oct 6, 2025

Extraction of Lignin with High β-O-4 Content by Mild Ethanol Extraction and Its Effect on the Depolymerization Yield
Published on: January 7, 2019
Visible-Light-Induced Selective C-C Bond Cleavage Reactions of Dimeric β-O-4 and β-1 Lignin Model Substrates
Suk Hyun Lim1, Hannara Jang1, Min-Ji Kim2
1Department of Chemistry, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk 38541, Korea.
Abstract:
Finding a selective and efficient fragmentation process under ambient conditions is pivotal for the generation of fuels and chemical feedstocks from lignoceullosic biomass. In the present study, visible-light and amine-functionalized fullerene-based photocatalyst-promoted photodegradation reactions of dimeric β-O-4 and β-1 lignin model compounds, containing varying numbers of methoxy substituents on the arene ring, were explored to find and develop mild, eco-friendly photochemical techniques for efficient delignification. The results showed that, in contrast to well-known organic photoredox catalysts, amine-functionalized fullerene photocatalyst promoted photochemical reactions of lignin model compounds could lead to more efficient lignin fragmentation reactions through a pathway involving a selective Cα-Cβ bond cleavage process, and in addition, Cα-hydroxyl moiety in lignin model compounds played a significant role in the success of the Cα-Cβ bond cleavage reaction of lignin model substrates.
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