Catalytic Ethanolysis of Kraft Lignin for the Production of Aromatic Chemicals over Zeolite

Due to dwindling fossil feedstock, lignocellulosic biomass is becoming an important alternative, renewable resource for the production of fuels, chemicals, and carbon based materials. Lignin has been a high-volume byproduct of the paper and pulp industry since the beginning of the commercial operation of alkaline pulp technology. Here, we demonstrate ethanolysis of lignin in supercritical ethanol (280 ^oC) over zeolite. With zeolite Y as catalysts, the high-value chemicals aromatics are accounted for around 50% of the products. And the mostly aromatics are toluene and propyl benzene.