Boreskov Institute of Catalysis SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia

PP-61ORGANOSOLV LIGNIN AS CHEMICALS PRECURSORAna Toledano, Araceli Garcia, Jalel LabidiChemical and Environmental Engineering Department, University of the BasqueCountry, Plaza de Europa 1, 20018, Donostia-San Sebastian, Spainjalel.labidi@ehu.esBiomass is a promising source of different by-products that can be transformedinto high value added products. Lignocellulosic biomass availability for 2010 in theUE is approximately 140 Mtoe and this type of biomass could assume a yearlysupply of approximately 200 billion metric tons worldwide. This type of biomass ismainly composed by cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin. Lignin is the second mostabundant polymer and the only biomass constituent based on aromatic units. Lignin’snative structure suggests that it could play a central role as a new chemical feedstockin the formation of supramolecular materials and aromatic chemicals. [1]In this work under development, organosolv based biorefineries are beingdeveloped to produce high quality lignins. Organosolv treatments are considered asclean technologies with reduced environmental impact and constitute a goodapproach for the complete utilisation of plant biomass as a source of fibres andchemicals [2]. Organosolv lignin is industrially interesting because it is a sulphur freelignin and presents lower molecular weight. Despite the low molecular weight,organosolv lignin macromolecule, like other types of lignins, is characterized bybroad molecular weight distribution. The obtaining of lignins with specific molecularweight and homogeneous properties is a key point for further transformation of thelignin. Ultrafiltration technology is an effective process to produce different fractionsof lignin with specific molecular weight and uniform properties [3].Specific lignin fractions can be catalytically transformed more easily as theobtained fractions will present homogenous properties. The lowest molecular weightfraction can be considered for the productions of chemicals such as phenols,benzene, toluene… by using selective hydrogenolysis catalyst and other catalyticreactions. Oxidative processes can be taken into consideration to produce derivedaldehydes, acids. The development of efficient catalytic technologies is required tomake lignin a profitable stream in the biorefinery process.References:[1]. J.J. Bozell, J.E. Holladay, D. Johnson, J.F. White. 2007. Pacific Northwest National LaboratoryPNNL-16983.[2]. D.V. Evtuguin, L.P. Deineko, C.P. Neto. 1999. Cellulose Chem. Technol. 33, 103-123.[3]. A. Toledano, A. García, I. Mondragon, J. Labidi. 2010. Sep. Purif. Technol. 71(1), 38-43Acknowledgements: The authors would like to thank the Spanish Ministry of Science andInnovation (CTQ2007-65074-C02-02) and the University of the Basque Country forsupporting financially this research work.152