(600au) Supported Phosphide Catalysts for the Depolymerization of Lignin

Supported Phosphide Catalysts for the Depolymerization
of Lignin

Dallas J. Rensel and Jason C. Hicks*, University of
Notre Dame

Lignin,
a renewable and abundant component of lignocellulosic
biomass, is an excellent feedstock for the sustainable production of fuels and
chemicals.¹ Due to its recalcitrant nature, the
first step to utilizing lignin to generate liquid products is depolymerization and/or liquefaction.   The development of selective
catalysts that target the cleavage of C-O bonds in lignin is needed to
stabilize the products generated during liquefaction to prevent repolymerization. 
We have synthesized many transition metal phosphide catalysts that have
been used to catalytically upgrade lignin model compounds.  Furthermore, we have synthesized Fe
promoted phosphide catalysts on various silica, zeolite, and alumina supports.  These catalysts have been characterized
by a battery of techniques:  XRD,
TPR, FT-IR, SEM, ICP-OES, FT-Raman, UV-Vis, and XPS.   Here, we present the effects of
the metal loading, addition of Fe, and the support on the deoxygenation
and depolymerization of lignin model compounds.

1.  Hicks, J. C., Advances in
C-O Bond Transformations in Lignin-Derived Compounds for Biofuels Production. J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 2011, 2 (18), 2280-2287.