Hydrothermal Depolymerization of Biorefinery Lignin-Rich Streams: Influence of Reaction Conditions and Catalytic Additives on the Organic Monomers Yields in Biocrude and Aqueous Phase

Machine Learning Model Insights into Base-Catalyzed Hydrothermal Lignin Depolymerization

Lignin, an abundant component of plant matter, can be depolymerized into renewable aromatic chemicals and biofuels but remains underutilized. Homogeneously catalyzed depolymerization in water has gained attention due to its economic feasibility and performance but suffers from inconsistently reported yields of bio-oil and solid residues. In this study, machine learning methods were used to develop predictive models for bio-oil and solid residue yields by using a few reaction variables and were subsequently validated by doing experimental work and comparing the predictions to the results. The models achieved a coefficient of determination (R2) score of 0.83 and 0.76, respectively, for bio-oil yield and solid residue. Variable importance for each model was calculated by two different methodologies and was tied to existing studies to explain the model predictive behavior. Based on the outcome of the study, the creation of concrete guidelines for reporting in lignin depolymerization studies was recommended. Shapley additive explanation value analysis reveals that temperature and reaction time are generally the strongest predictors of experimental outcomes compared to the rest.

Optimization and Potentials of Kraft Lignin Hydrolysates Obtained by Subcritical Water at Moderate Temperatures

Kraft lignin was treated with subcritical water at moderate temperatures (120–220 °C) in different gas atmospheres, with the goal of optimizing its depolymerization under mild conditions. Lignin depolymerization was observed and compared using different homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts in both nitrogen and carbon dioxide atmospheres. The most important treatment parameters for maximum lignin depolymerization and the highest yields of phenolic and other aromatic monomers were optimized. The influence of the process temperature, pressure, and time in both gas atmospheres was defined and optimized for maximum liberation of monomers into the aqueous phase. The yields of total phenols and other aromatics in the nitrogen atmosphere were the highest at 150 °C, whereas treatment in the carbon dioxide atmosphere required higher temperatures (200 °C) for a comparable efficiency. The effects of phenol addition as a capping agent in lignin depolymerization were observed and defined for both gas atmospheres. Phenol addition caused a remarkable increase in the total phenols content in the aqueous phase; however, it did not significantly affect the contents of other aromatics. The antioxidant properties of lignin hydrolysates obtained at different temperatures in different gas atmospheres were compared, correlated with the total phenols contents, and discussed, showing the promising potential of lignin hydrolysates obtained under mild subcritical water conditions.

Quantitative insights on de/repolymerization and deoxygenation of lignin in subcritical water

The objective of the study was to investigate alkali lignin polymerization/depolymerization pathways in subcritical water (SW) without additives. Following a SW treatment at 200, 250, 275 and 300 °C, the products were subjected to a comprehensive suite of analyses addressing the product speciation and molecular weight (MW) distribution. The MW reduction (1.4 times) in the solid products following the SW treatment indicated a surprisingly reduced impact of cross-linking/repolymerization at 300 °C and lower temperatures. This was further confirmed by thermal carbon analysis (TCA) showing a reduction in pyrolytic charring after the SW treatment. The TD-Py gas chromatography analysis of the SW treated lignin indicated that the solid residue is less oxygenated than the initial lignin (23 vs. 29% as confirmed by elemental analysis). Thus, deoxygenation rather than re-polymerization appears to be the main process route in the absence of catalysts within the temperature range considered.

Towards a better understanding of the HTL process of lignin-rich feedstock

The hydrothermal liquefaction reactions (HTL) in subcritical conditions of a lignin residue has been studied on a lab scale. The starting material was a lignin rich residue co-produced by an industrial plant situated in Northern Italy producing lignocellulosic bioethanol. The reactions were carried out in batch mode using stainless steel autoclaves. The experiments were under the following operating conditions: two different temperatures (300-350 °C), the presence of basis catalysts (NaOH, and NH₄OH) in different concentrations and the presence/absence of capping agent 2,6-bis-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4-methylphenol (BHT). Lignin residue and reaction products were characterized by analytical and spectroscopic techniques such as CHN-S, TGA, GC-MS, EPR, and ¹H-NMR with (2,2,6,6-Tetramethylpiperidin-1-yl)oxyl (T.E.M.P.O.). The addition of BHT did not significantly affect the yield of char which is formed by radical way. Spectroscopic analysis indicated that the level of radicals during the reaction was negligible. Therefore, the results obtained experimentally suggest that the reaction takes place via an ionic route while radical species would play a minor role.

Characterization of Chemically and Physically Activated Carbons from Lignocellulosic Ethanol Lignin-Rich Stream via Hydrothermal Carbonization and Slow Pyrolysis Pretreatment

The aim of the present work is to investigate the possibility of producing activated carbons from the residual lignin stream of lignocellulosic ethanol biorefineries, as this represents an optimal opportunity to exploit a residual and renewable material in the perspective of sustainable bioeconomy, increasing biorefinery incomes by producing value-added bioproducts in conjunction with biofuels. Activated carbons (ACs) were produced via chemical (KOH) and physical (CO2) activation. Char samples were obtained by slow pyrolysis (SP) and hydrothermal carbonization (HTC). Several HTC experiments were carried out by varying residence time (0.5–3 h) and reaction temperature (200–270 °C), in order to evaluate their influence on the product yield and on the morphological characteristics of the hydrochar (specific surface area, total pore volume and pore size distribution). ACs from hydrochars were compared with those obtained from pyrochar (via physical activation) and from the raw lignin-rich stream (via chemical activation). In both cases, by increasing the HTC temperature, the specific surface of the resulting activated carbons decreased from 630 to 77 m2 g−1 for physical activation and from 675 to 81 m2 g−1 for chemical activation, indicating that an increase in the severity of the hydrothermal pretreatment is deleterious for the activated carbons quality. In addition, the HTC aqueous samples were analyzed, with GC-MS and GC-FID. The results suggest that at low temperatures the reaction mechanisms are dominated by hydrolysis, instead when the temperature is increased to 270 °C, a more complex network of reactions takes place among which decarboxylation.