Abstract The increasing risk of fossil fuels depletion due to surging energy demand has accelerated the search of alternative renewable sources. Lignin, one of the major components of lignocellulosic biomass, is the only abundant renewable natural resource for aromatic compounds. In this work, the effects of metals and process parameters were discussed via the catalytic hydrogenolysis of β-O-4 lignin model compound, 2-phenethyl phenyl ether. The best results were obtained over Rh/Nb2O5 with an overall conversion of 99.3% and exceptional selectivity of 98.9% to aromatic products when the hydrogenolysis was carried out at 260 °C and 0.1 MPa H2 for 4 h. The high efficiency is mainly attributed to the cooperation between Rh and NbOx at the perimeter sites, in which Rh particles are responsible for the dissociation of H2 and NbOx for activating C O bonds. With respect to depolymerize of ash wood lignin, the liquid products were mostly aromatics over Rh/Nb2O5 under 0.1 MPa H2. The results achieved in this work provide a promising prospect towards valorization of lignin into production of valuable aromatic compounds under low hydrogen pressure.

中文翻译：

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木质素β-O-4芳基醚化合物和木质素在低H2压力下在Rh/Nb2O5上催化氢解为芳烃

摘要 由于能源需求激增，化石燃料枯竭的风险日益增加，加速了对替代可再生能源的寻找。木质素是木质纤维素生物质的主要成分之一，是芳香族化合物唯一丰富的可再生自然资源。在这项工作中，通过 β-O-4 木质素模型化合物 2-苯乙基苯基醚的催化氢解讨论了金属和工艺参数的影响。当在 260 °C 和 0.1 MPa H2 下进行氢解 4 小时时，在 Rh/Nb2O5 上获得了最佳结果，总转化率为 99.3%，芳香产物选择性为 98.9%。高效率主要归功于Rh和NbOx在周边站点的合作，其中 Rh 粒子负责解离 H2 和 NbOx 以激活 CO 键。对于白蜡木木质素的解聚，在 0.1 MPa H2 下，液体产物主要是 Rh/Nb2O5 上的芳烃。在这项工作中取得的结果为在低氢压下将木质素转化为有价值的芳香族化合物的生产提供了广阔的前景。