Catalysis and Reaction Engineering Commons^™

Catalytic Deoxygenation Of Oleaginous Biomass To Renewable Diesel And Sustainable Aviation Fuel Via Decarboxylation/Decarbonylation, Chukwudalu Great Umenweke

Theses and Dissertations--Chemistry

Several technologies have been developed to produce hydrocarbon biofuels – renewable diesel (RD) and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) – from fats, oils, and greases (FOG), with the hydroprocessing of esters and fatty acids (HEFA) representing one of the most mature pathways. In its current form, HEFA is mainly reliant on the hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) reaction, which has several drawbacks since HDO requires large amounts and pressures of hydrogen, feedstocks of high purity and cost, as well as problematic sulfided catalysts that risk contaminating the biofuel product with sulfur. A process based on decarboxylation/decarbonylation (deCO_x) offers an attractive alternative to …

Response To Replication Stress And Maintenance Of Genome Stability By Wrn, The Werner Syndrome Protein, David K. Orren, Amrita Machwe

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Werner syndrome (WS) is an autosomal recessive disease caused by loss of function of WRN. WS is a segmental progeroid disease and shows early onset or increased frequency of many characteristics of normal aging. WRN possesses helicase, annealing, strand exchange, and exonuclease activities and acts on a variety of DNA substrates, even complex replication and re- combination intermediates. Here, we review the genetics, biochemistry, and probably physiological functions of the WRN protein. Although its precise role is unclear, evidence suggests WRN plays a role in pathways that respond to replication stress and maintain genome stability particularly in telomeric regions.

The Roles Of Carbonaceous Wastes For Catalysis, Energy, And Environmental Remediation, Chi Huey Ng, Mohd Aizzan Mistoh, Siow Hwa Teo, Andrea Galassi, Hin Taufiq-Yap, Nancy Julius Siambun, Jurry Foo, Coswald Stephen Sipaut, Jeffrey Seay, Jidon Janaun

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

This article reviews recent studies about various generations of the carbon materials for their applications in energy and environmental remediation. The synthesis routes of the carbon materials including the condition parameters, interaction of precursors, dopants and carbon materials, as well as their physical/chemical properties are explicated first. Then, the application and mechanism of metal-free/metal-doped/non-metal-doped carbon materials are discussed in detail. Lastly, this review is ended with a summary and invigorating perspectives on the challenges and future directions at the forefront of the catalysis platform to take a step further for real application.

Functionalized Microfiltration Membranes For Aerosol Capture To Chloro-Organic Degradation, Rollie George Mills

Theses and Dissertations--Chemical and Materials Engineering

The environmental remediation of water and air sources is a challenging field, due to widespread contamination, pollutant variety, and efficiency of existing treatment options. Remediation of certain pollutants, such as per- and polyfluorinated chemicals (PFAS), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and viral aerosols, has shown promise via adsorptive, degradative, or filtration-based processes, each with their respective advantages and limitations. Membrane technology is one option that has exhibited considerable pollutant removal from environmental sources via reverse osmosis (RO) filtration, but is limited by low permeabilities and lack of pollutant detoxification. With the support of NIEHS and NSF, the functionalization …

Deficiency Of Acute-Phase Serum Amyloid A Exacerbates Sepsis-Induced Mortality And Lung Injury In Mice, Ailing Ji, Andrea C. Trumbauer, Victoria P. Noffsinger, Luke W. Meredith, Brittany Dong, Qian Wang, Ling Guo, Xiangan Li, Frederick C. De Beer, Nancy R. Webb, Lisa R. Tannock, Marlene E. Starr, Christopher M. Waters, Preetha Shridas

Saha Cardiovascular Research Center Faculty Publications

Serum amyloid A (SAA) is a family of proteins, the plasma levels of which may increase >1000-fold in acute inflammatory states. We investigated the role of SAA in sepsis using mice deficient in all three acute-phase SAA isoforms (SAA-TKO). SAA deficiency significantly increased mortality rates in the three experimental sepsis mouse models: cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), cecal slurry (CS) injection, and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatments. SAA-TKO mice had exacerbated lung pathology compared to wild-type (WT) mice after CLP. A bulk RNA sequencing performed on lung tissues excised 24 h after CLP indicated significant enrichment in the expression of genes associated …

Syne1 Mutation Is Associated With Increased Tumor Mutation Burden And Immune Cell Infiltration In Ovarian Cancer, Laura M. Harbin, Nan Lin, Frederick R. Ueland, Jill M. Kolesar

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

SYNE1, a nuclear envelope protein critical for cellular structure and signaling, is downregulated in numerous malignancies. SYNE1 alterations are found in 10% of gynecologic malignancies and 5% of epithelial ovarian cancers. Previous studies demonstrated an association between SYNE1 mutation, increased tumor mutation burden (TMB), and immunotherapy response. This study evaluates the SYNE1 mutation frequency, association with TMB, and downstream effects of SYNE1 mutation in ovarian cancer. Genetic information, including whole-exome sequencing, RNA analysis, and somatic tumor testing, was obtained for consenting ovarian cancer patients at an academic medical center. Mutation frequencies were compared between the institutional cohort and The Cancer …

Activation Of The Renin–Angiotensin–Aldosterone System Is Attenuated In Hypertensive Compared With Normotensive Pregnancy, Robin C. Shoemaker, Marko Poglitsch, Hong Huang, Katherine Vignes, Aarthi Srinivasan, Cynthia Cockerham-Morris, Aric Schadler, John Anthony Bauer, John O'Brien

UK CARES Faculty Publications

Hypertension during pregnancy increases the risk of adverse maternal and fetal outcomes, but the mechanisms of pregnancy hypertension are not precisely understood. Elevated plasma renin activity and aldosterone concentrations play an important role in the normal physiologic adaptation to pregnancy. These effectors are reduced in patients with pregnancy hypertension, creating an opportunity to define the features of the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system (RAAS) that are characteristic of this disorder. In the current study, we used a novel LC-MS/MS-based methodology to develop comprehensive profiles of RAAS peptides and effectors over gestation in a cohort of 74 pregnant women followed prospectively for the development …

Structures Of The Insecticidal Toxin Complex Subunit Xpta2 Highlight Roles For Flexible Domains, Cole L. Martin, David W. Chester, Christopher D. Radka, Lurong Pan, Zhengrong Yang, Rachel C. Hart, Elad M. Binshtein, Zhao Wang, Lisa Nagy, Lawrence J. Delucas, Stephen G. Aller

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

The Toxin Complex (Tc) superfamily consists of toxin translocases that contribute to the targeting, delivery, and cytotoxicity of certain pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria. Membrane receptor targeting is driven by the A-subunit (TcA), which comprises IgG-like receptor binding domains (RBDs) at the surface. To better understand XptA2, an insect specific TcA secreted by the symbiont X. nematophilus from the intestine of entomopathogenic nematodes, we determined structures by X-ray crystallography and cryo-EM. Contrary to a previous report, XptA2 is pentameric. RBD-B exhibits an indentation from crystal packing that indicates loose association with the shell and a hotspot for possible receptor binding or a …

A Process Intensification Approach To Improve Volatile Fatty Acids Production, Extraction, And Valorization, Can Liu

Theses and Dissertations--Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a widely used biowaste conversion method. Recent studies have explored arrested methanogenesis as an alternative approach to leverage existing AD facilities and produce volatile fatty acids (VFAs) instead of biogas. VFAs have been recognized as precursors for a range of value-added chemicals and bioproducts. Arrested methanogenesis involves inducing acidic fermentation by halting the AD process before methanogenesis. It has been found that higher organic loading and thermophilic conditions enhance VFA accumulation and stabilize the acidic fermentation (AF) system.

Brewer's spent grain (BSG), a significant by-product of the brewing industry, was employed as the feedstock for VFA …

Lignin Valorization Via Reductive Depolymerization Using Promoted Nickel Catalysts And Sub- And Supercritical Methanol, Julia Parker

Theses and Dissertations--Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

While lignin has been regarded as the most promising renewable feedstock for the sustainable manufacture of aromatic compounds, lignin valorization is necessary to improve the economic viability of biorefineries. Reductive catalytic fractionation (RCF), which combines delignification and lignin depolymerization into a single stage while maintaining the structure and integrity of the cellulose component, has evolved as an effective method for processing biomass. The ability of Cu and Fe to promote the performance of a 20% Ni/alumina catalyst when converting native lignin to alkylphenols by RCF in sub- and supercritical methanol was tested. The effectiveness of lignin extraction as measured by …

Photocatalytic Degradation Of Lignin By Supported Silver Nanoparticles, Ning Wei

Theses and Dissertations--Chemical and Materials Engineering

Lignin is the second most abundant form of biomass on earth. The phenolic structure and high carbon to oxygen ratio make lignin an attractive renewable source of fuel and chemicals. However, its recalcitrance and heterogeneous nature prove difficult for decomposing lignin’s polymer structure and separation of the products. This work has focused on the use of low-energy catalytic approaches to overcome these barriers. A mimic of the lignin degrading enzyme laccase, consisting of a copper cluster Cu4Py4I4 modified with AgNO3, was developed to function similarly to the laccase active site. The prepared copper complex solution was found to be active …

New Mechanism Insight For The Hydrogenation Of Co/Co2 Gas Mixtures To Hydrocarbons Over Iron-Based Catalyst, Sandeep Badoga, Michela Martinelli, Muthu Kumaran Gnanamani, Young Koh, Wilson D. Shafer

Center for Applied Energy Research Faculty and Staff Publications

Iron-based catalysts are the most suitable candidates for converting CO₂ or CO₂-rich syngas to hydrocarbons. However, several issues about the mechanism of CO₂ hydrogenation are still unclear. In this work, we investigated the performance of an iron-based catalyst with H₂/CO₂, H₂/CO/N₂ and H₂/CO/¹³CO₂/N₂ gas mixtures at the same process conditions (T = 270°C, P = 175 psi and SV = 3 NL/h/g_cat). The CO₂ hydrogenation rate was much lower than that observed for CO hydrogenation. ¹³CO_{2 …}

Bimetallic Nanoparticles Integrated Membranes For Groundwater Remediation: Synthesis, Characterization And Applications, Hongyi Wan

Theses and Dissertations--Chemical and Materials Engineering

The detoxification of chlorinated organics from groundwater, such as trichloroethylene (TCE), tetrachloroethylene (PCE), polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) and carbon tetrachloride (CTC), is a challenging area. Reductive dechlorination has been investigated using iron and iron-based nanoparticles, such as bare Fe, sulfidized Fe (S-Fe) and palladized Fe (Pd-Fe). However, issues including particle agglomeration, difficulties in recycling and particle leaching have been reported to hinder the application and wide usage of these techniques. The integration of nanoparticles and membranes can address these issues because of the large surface area, stability, and the potential for versatile functionalities. In this study, commercial polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) microfiltration …

Characterization And Electrochemical Performance Of Dopamine-Sensitized Titania Thin Films, Joshua Garay

Theses and Dissertations--Chemical and Materials Engineering

Sensitization of mesoporous titania films with dopamine and polydopamine for visible light photoelectrochemical activity is investigated. Sensitization effectiveness is compared with 8 mM dopamine solutions of varying pH (acidic, basic, and neutral), as well as with a basic polydopamine solution. Vibrational changes due to dopamine attachment are determined from detached powders by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) is used to quantify organics attached. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) of intact films probes the chemically induced charge shift from dopamine attachment. Cyclic voltammetry identifies the irreversible dopamine oxidation and tin reduction voltages. Finally, chronoamperometric curves are used to compare …

Nanostructured Metal Thin Films As Components Of Composite Membranes For Separations And Catalysis, Michael J. Detisch

Theses and Dissertations--Chemical and Materials Engineering

Novel metallic thin film composite membranes are synthesized and evaluated in this work for improved separations and catalysis capabilities. Advances in technology that allow for improved membrane performance in solvent separations are desirable for low molecular weight organic separation applications such as those in pharmaceutical industries. Additionally, the introduction of catalytic materials into membrane systems allow for optimization of complex processes in a single step. By adding a nanostructured metallic thin film to its surface, a polymer membrane may be modified to exhibit these improved properties. Using magnetron sputtering, thin metal films may be deposited on commercially available membranes to …

The Development Of Temperature And Ph Responsive Hydrogels And Membranes For Selective Sorption Of Perfluoroorganics And Nanoparticle Integrated Catalytic Degradation Of Pcb, Anthony Saad

Theses and Dissertations--Chemical and Materials Engineering

The functionalization and use of responsive and catalytic polymeric membranes and materials were explored for contaminant capture and degradation. While membranes have a wide variety of uses across multiple industries, the inclusion of materials that are temperature and pH responsive in the membrane pore domain yields a wide range of applications and possibilities for water treatment. Temperature and pH responsive polymers, as well as controlled nanostructured materials, were synthesized in membrane pores for advanced adsorption-desorption and catalytic treatment of emerging organic contaminants in water. In this study, supported by the NIEHS, poly-N-isopropylacrylamide (PNIPAm) was used as a model thermo-responsive polymer, …

Photocatalytic Degradation Of Profenofos And Triazophos Residues In The Chinese Cabbage, Brassica Chinensis, Using Ce-Doped Tio2, Xiangying Liu, You Zhan, Zhongqin Zhang, Lang Pan, Lifeng Hui, Kailin Liu, Xuguo Zhou, Lianyang Bai

Entomology Faculty Publications

Pesticides have revolutionized the modern day of agriculture and substantially reduced crop losses. Synthetic pesticides pose a potential risk to the ecosystem and to the non-target organisms due to their persistency and bioaccumulation in the environment. In recent years, a light-mediated advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) has been adopted to resolve pesticide residue issues in the field. Among the current available semiconductors, titanium dioxide (TiO₂) is one of the most promising photocatalysts. In this study, we investigated the photocatalytic degradation of profenofos and triazophos residues in Chinese cabbage, Brassica chinensis, using a Cerium-doped nano semiconductor TiO₂ (TiO …

Fischer–Tropsch: Product Selectivity–The Fingerprint Of Synthetic Fuels, Wilson D. Shafer, Muthu Kumaran Gnanamani, Uschi M. Graham, Jia Yang, Cornelius M. Masuku, Gary Jacobs, Burtron H. Davis

Center for Applied Energy Research Faculty and Staff Publications

The bulk of the products that were synthesized from Fischer–Tropsch synthesis (FTS) is a wide range (C₁–C₇₀₊) of hydrocarbons, primarily straight-chained paraffins. Additional hydrocarbon products, which can also be a majority, are linear olefins, specifically: 1-olefin, trans-2-olefin, and cis-2-olefin. Minor hydrocarbon products can include isomerized hydrocarbons, predominantly methyl-branched paraffin, cyclic hydrocarbons mainly derived from high-temperature FTS and internal olefins. Combined, these products provide 80–95% of the total products (excluding CO₂) generated from syngas. A vast number of different oxygenated species, such as aldehydes, ketones, acids, and alcohols, are also embedded in this product range. …

Effect Of Pt Promotion On The Ni-Catalyzed Deoxygenation Of Tristearin To Fuel-Like Hydrocarbons, Ryan Loe, Kelsey Huff, Morgan Walli, Tonya Morgan, Dali Qian, Robert Pace, Yang Song, Mark Isaacs, Eduardo Santillan-Jimenez, Mark Crocker

Center for Applied Energy Research Faculty and Staff Publications

Pt represents an effective promoter of supported Ni catalysts in the transformation of tristearin to green diesel via decarbonylation/decarboxylation (deCO_x), conversion increasing from 2% over 20% Ni/Al₂O₃ to 100% over 20% Ni-0.5% Pt/Al₂O₃ at 260 °C. Catalyst characterization reveals that the superior activity of Ni-Pt relative to Ni-only catalysts is not a result of Ni particle size effects or surface area differences, but rather stems from several other phenomena, including the improved reducibility of NiO when Pt is present. Indeed, the addition of a small amount of Pt to the supported Ni …

Continuous Catalytic Deoxygenation Of Waste Free Fatty Acid-Based Feeds To Fuel-Like Hydrocarbons Over A Supported Ni-Cu Catalyst, Ryan Loe, Yasmeen Lavoignat, Miranda Maier, Mohanad Abdallah, Tonya Morgan, Dali Qian, Robert Pace, Eduardo Santillan-Jimenez, Mark Crocker

Center for Applied Energy Research Faculty and Staff Publications

While commercial hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) processes convert fats, oils, and grease (FOG) to fuel-like hydrocarbons, alternative processes based on decarboxylation/decarbonylation (deCO_x) continue to attract interest. In this contribution, the activity of 20% Ni-5% Cu/Al₂O₃ in the deCO_x of waste free fatty acid (FFA)-based feeds—including brown grease (BG) and an FFA feed obtained by steam stripping a biodiesel feedstock—was investigated, along with the structure-activity relationships responsible for Ni promotion by Cu and the structural evolution of catalysts during use and regeneration. In eight-hour experiments, near quantitative conversion of the aforementioned feeds to diesel-like hydrocarbons was achieved. …

Functionalization Of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles And The Impact On Surface Reactive Oxygen Species Generation For Potential Biomedical And Environmental Applications, Trang Mai

Theses and Dissertations--Chemical and Materials Engineering

Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) have been widely studied for a variety of applications, from biomedical applications (e.g., cell separation, drug delivery, contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging and magnetically mediated energy delivery for cancer treatment) to environmental remediations (e.g., heavy metal removal and organic pollutants degradation). It has been demonstrated that IONPs can induce the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) via Fenton/Haber-Weiss reactions which has been shown to be one of the key underlying mechanisms of nanoparticles toxicity. This inherent toxicity of nanoparticles has been shown to enhance the efficacy of traditional cancer therapies such as chemotherapy and radiation. …

Impact Of Conformational Change, Solvation Environment, And Post-Translational Modification On Desulfurization Enzyme 2'-Hydroxybiphenyl-2-Sulfinate Desulfinase (Dszb) Stability And Activity, Landon C. Mills

Theses and Dissertations--Chemical and Materials Engineering

Naturally occurring enzymatic pathways enable highly specific, rapid thiophenic sulfur cleavage occurring at ambient temperature and pressure, which may be harnessed for the desulfurization of petroleum-based fuel. One pathway found in bacteria is a four-step catabolic pathway (the 4S pathway) converting dibenzothiophene (DBT), a common crude oil contaminant, into 2-hydroxybiphenyl (HBP) without disrupting the carbon-carbon bonds. 2’-Hydroxybiphenyl-2-sulfinate desulfinase (DszB), the rate-limiting enzyme in the enzyme cascade, is capable of selectively cleaving carbon-sulfur bonds. Accordingly, understanding the molecular mechanisms of DszB activity may enable development of the cascade as industrial biotechnology. Based on crystallographic evidence, we hypothesized that DszB …

Performance Of C2H4 Reductant In Activated-Carbon-Supported Mnox-Based Scr Catalyst At Low Temperatures, Guangli Liu, Dongtai Han, Jie Cheng, Yongshi Feng, Wenbin Quan, Li Yang, Kozo Saito

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

Hydrocarbons as reductants show promising results for replacing NH₃ in SCR technology. Therefore, considerable interest exists for developing low-temperature (< 200 °C) and environmentally friendly HC-SCR catalysts. Hence, C₂H₄ was examined as a reductant using activated-carbon-supported MnOx-based catalyst in low-temperature SCR operation. Its sensitivity to Mn concentration and operating temperature was parametrically studied, the results of which showed that the catalyst activity followed the order of 130 °C > 150 °C > 180 °C with an optimized Mn concentration near 3.0 wt.%. However, rapid deactivation of catalytic activity also occurred when using C₂H₄ as the reductant. The mechanism of deactivation was explored and is …

Photocatalytic Activity: Experimental Features To Report In Heterogeneous Photocatalysis, Md. Ariful Hoque, Marcelo I. Guzman

Chemistry Faculty Publications

Heterogeneous photocatalysis is a prominent area of research with major applications in solar energy conversion, air pollution mitigation, and removal of contaminants from water. A large number of scientific papers related to the photocatalysis field and its environmental applications are published in different journals specializing in materials and nanomaterials. However, many problems exist in the conception of papers by authors unfamiliar with standard characterization methods of photocatalysts as well as with the procedures needed to determine photocatalytic activities based on the determination of “apparent quantum efficiencies” within a wavelength interval or “apparent quantum yields” in the case of using monochromatic …

Method Of Increasing Mass Transfer Rate Of Acid Gas Scrubbing Solvents, Cameron Anthony Lippert, Kunlei Liu, Christine Marie Brandewie, Joseph Eugene Remias, Moushumi Sarma

Center for Applied Energy Research Faculty Patents

A method and catalysts for increasing the overall mass transfer rate of acid gas scrubbing solids is disclosed. Various catalyst compounds for that purpose are also disclosed.

NoX Formation In Light-Hydrocarbon, Premixed Flames, Robert T. Hughes

Theses and Dissertations--Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

This study explores the reactions and related species of NO_x pollutants in methane flames in order to understand their production and consumption during the combustion process. To do this, several analytical simulations were run to explore the behavior of nitrogen species in the pre-flame, post- flame, and reaction layer regions. The results were then analyzed in order to identify all "steady-state" species in the flame as well as the determine all the unnecessary reactions and species that are not required to meet a defined accuracy. The reductions were then applied and proven to be viable.

Surface And Structural Modification Of Carbon Electrodes For Electroanalysis And Electrochemical Conversion, Yan Zhang

Theses and Dissertations--Chemistry

Electrocatalysis is key to both sensitive electrochemical sensing and efficient electrochemical energy conversion. Despite high catalytic activity, traditional metal catalysts have poor stability, low selectivity, and high cost. Metal-free, carbon-based materials are emerging as alternatives to metal-based catalysts because of their attractive features including natural abundance, environmental friendliness, high electrical conductivity, and large surface area. Altering surface functionalities and heteroatom doping are effective ways to promote catalytic performance of carbon-based catalysts. The first chapter of this dissertation focuses on developing electrode modification methods for electrochemical sensing of biomolecules. After electrochemical pretreatment, glassy carbon demonstrates impressive figures-of-merit in detecting small, redox-active …

Synergistic Interactions Of H2 And N2 With Molten Gallium In The Presence Of Plasma, Maria L. Carreon, Daniel F. Jaramillo-Cabanzo, Indira Chaudhuri, Madhu Menon, Mahendra K. Sunkara

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

The present study examines the interaction of hydrogen and nitrogen plasmas with gallium in an effort to gain insights into the mechanisms behind the synergetic effect of plasma and a catalytic metal. Absorption/desorption experiments were performed, accompanied by theoretical-computational calculations. Experiments were carried out in a plasma-enhanced, Ga-packed, batch reactor and entailed monitoring the change in pressure at different temperatures. The results indicated a rapid adsorption/dissolution of the gas into the molten metal when gallium was exposed to plasma, even at a low temperature of 100 °C. The experimental observations, when hydrogen was used, indicate that gallium acts as a …

Ga And In Modified Ceria As A Support For Cobalt Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis, Muthu Kumaran Gnanamani, Gary Jacobs, Wilson D. Shafer, Michela Martinelli, Donald C. Cronauer, A. Jeremy Kropf, Christopher L. Marshall, Burtron H. Davis

Center for Applied Energy Research Faculty and Staff Publications

Ceria modified by the addition of gallium or indium (20 mol%) was used as a support for cobalt Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. The addition of gallium to ceria improved the CO conversion for cobalt, whereas indium tended to decrease it. A similar trend was observed with the Ag-promoted cobalt/ceria catalysts that were doped with Ga or In. For Ag promoted catalysts, doping with Ga or In decreased methane and increased the product selectivities of olefins and alcohols. The sum of olefins and alcohols in terms of product selectivity for the Ag-promoted catalysts decreased in the following order: Ag-Co/Ce-Ga > Ag-Co/Ce-In > Ag-Co/Ce. The H2-TPR-XANES …

Catalytic Oxidation And Depolymerization Of Lignin In Aqueous Ionic Liquid, Lalitendu Das, Siquan Xu, Jian Shi

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

Lignin is an integral part of the plant cell wall, which provides rigidity to plants, also contributes to the recalcitrance of the lignocellulosic biomass to biochemical and biological deconstruction. Lignin is a promising renewable feedstock for aromatic chemicals; however, an efficient and economic lignin depolymerization method needs to be developed to enable the conversion. In this study, we investigated the depolymerization of alkaline lignin in aqueous 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate [C₂C₁Im][OAc] under oxidizing conditions. Seven different transition metal catalysts were screened in presence of H₂O₂ as oxidizing agent in a batch reactor. CoCl₂ and …