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Mild Photocatalysed and Catalysed Green Oxidation of Lignin: A Useful Pathway to Low-Molecular-Weight Derivatives

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Abstract

Two commercial Ca2+ and NH4 + lignin derivatives were catalytically oxidised and photooxidised both aerobically and in presence of H2O2 (Fenton system), under green conditions (water solution, 20°C, 1 atm), to obtain fractions with reduced degrees of polymerisation. Analyses of the oxidised solutions were carried out using NMR, MS and UV spectrometry. The catalytic and photocatalytic systems used showed satisfactory conservation of the organic material, except for the Fenton system. Lignins showed some mineralisation when irradiated in the presence of H5[PMo10V2O40] × H2O (POM-1), K5[Ru(H2O)PW11O39] (POM-2), K4[SiW12O40]·8H2O (POM-3) and TiO2. When the POMs were used as thermal catalysts, POM-3 was almost inactive, while the reactivities of POM-1 and POM-2 under both thermal and photochemical conditions were comparable, revealing little effect of irradiation on the reaction mechanism. The best compromise appears to be the TiO2 photosystem, which shows low carbon consumption, good preservation of aromatic rings, and greatly reduced mineralisation. Alternatively, POM-1 can be used, and particularly under thermal conditions.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the “Consorzio di Ricerca per l’Innovazione Tecnologica, la Qualità e la Sicurezza degli Alimenti S.C.R.L”. (DM MIUR n. 28497/2006), and to the “G. D’Annunzio” University for financial support.

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  1. Department of Science, University “G. D’Annunzio” of Chieti and Pescara, Viale Pindaro 42, 65127, Pescara, Italy

    Lucia Tonucci, Francesca Coccia, Mario Bressan & Nicola d’Alessandro

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  1. Lucia Tonucci
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  2. Francesca Coccia
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  4. Nicola d’Alessandro
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Correspondence to Nicola d’Alessandro.

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Tonucci, L., Coccia, F., Bressan, M. et al. Mild Photocatalysed and Catalysed Green Oxidation of Lignin: A Useful Pathway to Low-Molecular-Weight Derivatives. Waste Biomass Valor 3, 165–174 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-011-9102-6

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