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Unravelling Some of the Key Transformations in the Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Lignin
Author(s) -
Lui Matthew Y.,
Chan Bun,
Yuen Alexander K. L.,
Masters Anthony F.,
Montoya Alejandro,
Maschmeyer Thomas
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
chemsuschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.412
H-Index - 157
eISSN - 1864-564X
pISSN - 1864-5631
DOI - 10.1002/cssc.201700528
Subject(s) - lignin , bifunctional , reactivity (psychology) , chemistry , hydrothermal circulation , catalysis , chemical engineering , organic chemistry , liquefaction , medicine , alternative medicine , pathology , engineering
Using both experimental and computational methods, focusing on intermediates and model compounds, some of the main features of the reaction mechanisms that operate during the hydrothermal processing of lignin were elucidated. Key reaction pathways and their connection to different structural features of lignin were proposed. Under neutral conditions, subcritical water was demonstrated to act as a bifunctional acid/base catalyst for the dissection of lignin structures. In a complex web of mutually dependent interactions, guaiacyl units within lignin were shown to significantly affect overall lignin reactivity.