1. Metal-catalyzed depolymerization
Isaac
November

2. Outline Brief background of lignin
Industrial scale processes for lignin depolymerization
Pd and Ru catalyzed depolymerization
Base-catalyzed depolymerization
Conclusions

3. Schematic structure of lignocellulose
Deepa et al., ACS Catalysis, 2015, 5,

4. Lignin monomers
Deepa et al., ACS Catalysis, 2015, 5,

5. Proposed Structure of Lignin
Complex structure
Composes ~15-40% of lignocellulosic biomass
2nd most abundant natural polymer
Deepa et al., ACS Catalysis, 2015, 5,

6. Lignin Application
Deepa et al., ACS Catalysis, 2015, 5,

7. Industrial scale processes of lignin depolymerization
Noguchi process ( )
Crown-Zellerbach process (1966)
Lignol process ( )
H.H.Nimz, Elsevier,1986,67-68

8. Ruthenium catalyzed mechanism
Kishimoto, T et al.,Org. Biomol. Chem. 2005, 3, 1067

9. Palladium catalyzed mechanism
Kishimoto, T et al.,Org. Biomol. Chem. 2005, 3, 1067

10. Base-catalyzed lignin depolymerisation
J.M. Lavoie at al.,Bioresource Tech., 2011,102,

11. Conclusions
Metal catalyzed depolymerization is cost-effective, highly selective and sustainable.
Base catalyzed requires harsh reaction conditions which results in high costs of facility and handling.