Issue 13, 2024

Electrochemical oxidation of lignin model compounds over metal oxyhydroxides on nickel foam

Abstract

Electrochemical catalysis emerges as a promising method for lignin depolymerization due to its environmental friendliness and mild reaction condition. Metal oxyhydroxides have displayed appealing electrochemical activity for the oxidation for various biomass substrates. In this study, we prepared different metal (Ni, Co, Mn, Fe, and Cu) oxyhydroxides on nickel foam electrodes through electrodeposition. Their electrochemical properties were characterized and the reactivity towards lignin oxidative cleavage was investigated using lignin model compounds. NiOOH exhibited significantly higher activity for oxidative cleavage of the β-O-4 linkage compared to other metal oxyhydroxides, resulting in a 93% yield of aromatic monomers with 99% selectivity towards benzoic acids. Furthermore, the reconstruction process of the active site NiOOH was revealed by in-situ testing, and the reaction mechanism was explored. The non-phenolic structure underwent Cβ–Cγ/Cβ–O or Cα–Cβ cleavage, predominantly producing benzoic acids, while the phenolic structure was rapidly oxidized into dicarboxylic acids over NiOOH.

Graphical abstract: Electrochemical oxidation of lignin model compounds over metal oxyhydroxides on nickel foam

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
01 May 2024
Accepted
15 May 2024
First published
16 May 2024

Green Chem., 2024,26, 7759-7768

Electrochemical oxidation of lignin model compounds over metal oxyhydroxides on nickel foam

Z. Danlu, Z. Xu, W. Sinong, X. Yan, D. Qiqi, Y. Fengxia, W. Peng, L. Chuanfu and L. Wu, Green Chem., 2024, 26, 7759 DOI: 10.1039/D4GC02156H

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