Upscaling reductive depolymerization of lignin: Process optimization through catalyst characterization and regeneration

Depletion of resources and global warming have become two of society’s main concerns in recent years spurring a transition towards recycling of used resources and the production of materials from renewable resources. In this regard, the use of lignin is crucial as it is the largest renewable source of aromatic building blocks, which are essential in material production. The complex structure of polymeric lignin, however, requires depolymerization to simpler building blocks that can immediately be implemented within industrial processes. One of the most promising depolymerization techniques for upscaling is reductive catalytic depolymerization (RCD) of isolated lignin in continuous-flow reactors, which have received increasing attention due to the abundancy of technical lignin’s from biorefineries. Within this context, VITO has been one of the leading institutes demonstrating continuous RCD of technical lignin both at lab and pilot scale.