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Updated: Jun 2, 2026
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
Microwave Depolymerization of Lignin via Dynamic Vapor Flow Reaction System: HCOOH as Pretreatment Solvent or
Wenliang Wang1, Yishuai Fu1, Yutong Chen1
1National Demonstration Center for Experimental Light Chemistry Engineering Education, Shaanxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Papermaking Technology and Specialty Paper Development, College of Bioresources Chemical & Materials Engineering (College of Flexible Electronics), Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710021, China.
Abstract:
Different forms of HCOOH in the depolymerization system play an important role in governing the monomeric products from lignin. We reported two strategies for the introduction of HCOOH to enrich the monophenols from kraft lignin by microwave-assisted depolymerization. The reaction of lignin models showed that HCOOH was in favor of the cleavage of C-O bonds (β-O-4 typically) and partial C-C bonds (Cα-Cβ). Subsequently, Microwave-assisted depolymerization of lignin with two strategies was conducted via a designed dynamic vapor flow reaction system. Strategy A with HCOOH as pretreatment solvent showed excellent monophenols enrichment with total mass yields of 193.71 mg/g (lignin basis). Strategy B using HCOOH as reforming solvent vapor significantly increased the monophenols selectivity. It presented unique reforming and upgrading performance by generating catechol (42.59 mg/g, lignin basis) and homovanillic acid (17.58 mg/g, lignin basis). This study provided potential strategies for the efficient conversion of kraft lignin into high-value platform chemicals.
