Controlled lignosulfonate depolymerization via solvothermal fragmentation coupled with catalytic hydrogenolysis/hydrogenation in a continuous flow reactor

Abstract

Sodium lignosulfonate (LS) was valorized to low molecular weight (M_w) fractions by combining solvothermal (SF) and catalytic hydrogenolysis/hydrogenation fragmentation (SHF) in a continuous flow system. This was achieved in either alcohol/H₂O (EtOH/H₂O or MeOH/H₂O) or H₂O as a solvent and Ni on nitrogen-doped carbon as a catalyst. The tunability according to the temperature of both SF and catalytic SHF of LS has been separately investigated at 150 °C, 200 °C, and 250 °C. In SF, the minimal M_w was 2994 g mol⁻¹ at 250 °C with a dispersity (Đ) of 5.3 using MeOH/H₂O. In catalytic SHF using MeOH/H₂O, extremely low M_w was found (433 mg g_LS⁻¹) with a Đ of 1.2 combined with 34 mg g_LS⁻¹. The monomer yield was improved to 42 mg g_LS⁻¹ using dual catalytic beds. These results provide direct evidence that lignin is an unstable polymer at elevated temperatures and could be efficiently deconstructed under hydrothermal conditions with and without a catalyst.