Lignin-to-Liquid-Solvolysis (LtL) of Organosolv Extracted Lignin

Utilization of lignocellulosic biomass as a future energy source is a research field of widespread growth. The lignin fraction has potential as a renewable resource to provide building blocks for the chemical industry and is the most prominent source of bio-based aromatics. Lignin, combined with formic acid and water under high temperature and pressure, is converted to a bio-oil rich in alkylated phenols and aliphatic hydrocarbons in a unique conversion process termed the LtL-process (lignin-to-liquid). In this work, this conversion technique has shown to be applicable to a variety of lignins, with organosolv extracted lignin as the main focus because of its high purity. The organosolv lignins appeared to be well suited for LtL-conversion generating higher yields of bio-oil than a lignin-rich residue from enzymatic hydrolysis. 31P NMR and GC-MS showed that the O/C ratios of the bio-oils decreases with increasing reaction temperature during LtL-solvolysis because of a decrease in methoxylated phenols and a...