Conversion of lignin into renewable carboxylic acid compounds by advanced oxidation processes

Juhyon Kang, Sibel Irmak, Mark Wilkins

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

49 Scopus citations

Abstract

The present study was designed to investigate formation of possible carboxylic acids from oxidation of lignin by Fenton and UV-Fenton advanced oxidation processes (AOPs). The study was performed with model lignin monomers (syringaldehyde (SA), 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde (4-HBA), 2-methoxyphenol (2-MP) and 2,6-dimethoxyphenol (2,6-DMP)) and also with lignin isolated from eastern red cedar. Products in samples withdrawn from the reactor mixture at different oxidation stages were determined by GC-MS. Oxidation of one of lignin monomer (2-MP) was also performed with a different AOPs (UV/TiO2) for comparison of oxidation products. Depending on the oxidation stages, various carboxylic acids having aromatic and non-aromatic structures with mono- or di-carboxyl functional groups were determined. Performing oxidation of 2-MP with UV/TiO2 led to formation of 2-hydroxypropanoic acid as a low-carbon chain monocarboxylic acid which was not formed in Fenton and UV-Fenton. Oxidation products from the lignin fraction had mono- and di-carboxylic acid products in low percentages.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)951-962
Number of pages12
JournalRenewable Energy
Volume135
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2019

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment

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