Chemical Characterization of Depolymerization Products from Lignin

A new process developed at the University of Utah partially depolymerizes and deoxygenates lignin. The product from this process is much more amenable to various hydrotreating strategies than the original lignin. Hydrotreating the depolymerized lignin results in further deoxygenation and/or saturation of the aromatic ring depending on reaction conditions and the catalysts used, to give productsfully compatible with reformulated gasoline. A variety of spectroscopic and chromatographic techniques have been applied to the characterization of the depolymerized lignin product. Extent of alkylation, deoxygenation, demethoxylation, depolymerization, and hydrogenation has been determined by combining data from the various techniques. The methodology and results of these analyses are described.