HYDROGENATION OF ABIES WOOD ETHANOL-LIGNIN WITH HYDROGEN IN ETHANOL MEDIUM IN THE PRESENCE OF NiCuMo/SiO2 CATALYST

Abstract

In the development of studies on the catalytic conversion of lignin to liquid hydrocarbons, the effect of the bifunctional NiCuMo/SiO2 catalyst on the yield and composition of abies wood ethanol-lignin hydrogenation products in ethanol medium at a temperature of 250 °C was established. According to thermogravimetric analysis data the main thermal decomposition of abies wood ethanol-lignin occurs in the range from 260 to 600 °C with the maximum rate of degradation (3.9%/min) at 398.3 °C. The catalyst increases the yield of liquid products from 75.0 to 88.0 wt%, and reduces the yield of solid residue from 14.0 to 0.6 wt%. The total yield of phenolic compounds of non-catalytic hydrogenation does not exceed 4.5 wt%. The bifunctional nickel-containing catalyst increases by two times (up to 9.2 wt.%) the yield of liquid phenolic products, among which dimers and 4-propyl guaiacol predominate. The molecular weight distribution of the liquid products of the catalytic hydrogenation of abies ethanol-lignin shifts to the low molecular weight region due to the increase in the content of dimeric and monomeric phenolic compounds in liquid products. The obtained methoxyphenols can be used as components of epoxy resins, polycarbonates, fuel additives, and in other areas.