Catalytic Oxidation of Lignin to Vanillin using metal oxides

化学学院（50:50）催化与计算化学。自20世纪50年代以来，木质素磺酸钠的好氧氧化被用于从木质素中生产工业香兰素。能源需求的增长和化石燃料使用造成的污染促使人们寻找环保替代品。木质素，一种由纸浆和造纸工业生产的交联酚醛聚合物，特别有趣。木质素转化通常在高温高压的液体中进行。水热温度导致固体催化剂活性位点失活，导致催化活性、选择性和产率差。选择性木质素转化需要活性位点优化，以防止不希望的裂解和再冷凝，最大限度地减少氧气消耗，并促进废物最小化，以有效的木质素氧化为香兰素。

School of Chemistry (50:50) Catalysis and Computational Chemistry. Since the 1950s, the aerobic oxidation of sodium lignosulfonate has been used to produce industrial vanillin from lignin. The rise in energy demand and pollution from fossil fuel use has driven the search for eco-friendly alternatives. Lignin, a cross-linked phenolic polymer produced by the pulp and paper industries, is particularly interesting. Lignin conversion is normally done in a liquid at high temperatures and pressure. Hydrothermal temperatures cause deactivation of solid catalyst active sites, resulting in poor catalytic activity, selectivity, and yield. Selective lignin conversion requires active site optimization to prevent undesired cleavage and re-condensation, minimise oxygen consumption, and promote waste minimization for effective lignin oxidation to vanillin.