Abstract
Herein, using Ru/C and H2WO4 as the catalysts, native lignin in biomass was efficiently depolymerized into monophenols following the lignin-first strategy at mild conditions. Upon the co-presence of Ru/C and H2WO4, birch lignin afforded monophenols in 40.4 wt% yield at 200 °C, which was 2.5 times that upon Ru/C and 7.5 times that upon H2WO4. 4-Propylsyringol and 4-propylguaiacol were two major products with a combined selectivity of 73%. 2D HSQC NMR of liquid product reveals that β-O-4 bonds in the soluble lignin fragments had been thoroughly disrupted. H2WO4 dissolving at high temperatures promoted the solvolysis of lignin from the biomass matrix, and Ru/C enhanced the following reductive depolymerization. The solid catalysts can be readily recovered for reuse at room temperature after the hydrolysis of carbohydrates, and the catalysts exhibited high activity after four recycles.
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