Sarıçam ve ligninin süperkritik etanolde katalitik depolimerizasyonu

Lignocellulosic biomass is an abundant, renewable and worldwide available source that can be valorized into a wide range of biofuels, biochemicals and biomaterials. Lignocellulosic feedstock (LCF) biorefineries can utilize lignocellulosic biomass by means of various conversion technologies. Of them, catalytic conversion is an efficient technology moves forward with the development of new heterogeneous catalysts. As the technology emerges, not only lignocellulosic biomass but also lignin has been realized as a promising future feedstock for the production of value-added products. Although lignin has been an undervalued component compared to cellulose and hemicellulose and utilized only as a fuel source, the huge potential of its valorization has been a center of attraction. Lignin can be effectively valorized in LCF biorefineries taking the advantage of largely available lignin sourced from the existing industrial processing such as paper and pulp production. As numerous biofuels, biochemicals and biomaterials can be produced from lignocellulosic biomass, particularly lignin is the future green feedstock for the production of aromatics being produced from fossil-based sources. Direct and effective valorization of lignocellulosic biomass as well as lignin is an ideal strategy for the transition from fossil-based chemical industry to a bio-based on in the future. One-pot catalytic depolymerization is a recent and advancing technology for the valorization of lignocellulosic biomass and lignin. Multifunctional catalysts and supercritical solvents are the key factors for an effective depolymerization. In this study, the depolymerization of Scotch Pine and Protobind 1000 lignin over CuMgAl metal mixed oxides in supercritical ethanol were studied. Effects of CuMgAl metal mixed oxides on catalytic lignin depolymerization were examined by the synthesis of the catalysts with different Cu content and (Cu+Mg)/Al ratio by the calcination of Layered Double Hydroxides (LDHs). Catalytic depolymerization of Scotch Pine was carried out over Cu20MgAlO4 at two different temperature. The effect of temperature on catalytic depolymerization of Scotch Pine was targeted. Also, cellulose as a model compound of lignocellulosic biomass and glucose as a model compound of glucose were catalytically depolymerized over Cu20MgAlO4 at the same operating conditions with Scotch Pine in order to better understand depolymerization mechanism. Depolymerization products of each catalytic depolymerization reactions were analyzed according to gas, liquid and solid phase products. Satisfactory monomer yields were obtained with numerous liquid phase products as the candidates or precursors of various biofuels and/or biochemicals.