title: Mild hydrogenolysis of in-situ and isolated Pinus radiata lignins.
abstract: The Pd/C-catalysed hydrogenolysis of in-situ and isolated lignins from Pinus radiata wood was investigated to gain a more complete understanding of the factors affecting yield and composition of the hydrogenolysis products. Such hydrogenolysis products could potentially be refined into aromatic feedstock chemicals providing sustainable alternatives to petroleum-derived phenols. Lignins were converted into solvent-soluble oils composed of monomeric, dimeric and oligomeric products in high yields, up to 89% of the original lignin. The main monomer products were dihydroconiferyl alcohol and 4-n-propyl guaiacol. Dimeric and oligomeric compounds constituted 75% of the hydrogenolysis oils and were mainly composed of dihydroconiferyl alcohol and 4-n-propyl guaiacol units linked by β-5, 5-5, 4-O-5 and β-1 linkages. Hydrogenolysis of steam exploded wood gave lower yields of lignin hydrogenolysis products compared to unmodified wood due to fewer reactive aryl-ether linkages in the lignin.
authors.affiliation: Scion, Private Bag 3020, Rotorua 3046, New Zealand. kirk.torr@scionresearch.com
authors.forename: Kirk M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Torr
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: van de Pas
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cazeils
authors.forename: Ian D
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Suckling
mesh_terms: D056804:Biofuels; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000737:chemistry*; D008031:Lignin / Q000737:chemistry*; D019906:Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular; D010636:Phenols / Q000737:chemistry; D028223:Pinus / Q000737:chemistry*; D011312:Pressure; D013227:Steam; D014934:Wood / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D010636:Phenols; D013227:Steam; C106832:dihydroconiferyl alcohol; D006859:Hydrogen; D008031:Lignin