Hydrothermal conversion of Lignin compounds. A detailled study of fragmentation and condensation reaction pathways

Jérémie Barbier (1, 2) , Nadège Charon (2) , Nathalie Dupassieux (2) , Anne Loppinet-Serani (1) , Laure Mahé (2) , Jérémie Ponthus (2) , Marion Courtiade (2) , Annie Ducrozet (2) , Anne-Agate Quoineaud , François Cansell (1)

1 ICMCB - Institut de Chimie de la Matière Condensée de Bordeaux
2 IFPEN - IFP Energies nouvelles

The hydrothermal conversion takes advantage of the singular physico-properties of the hot and compressed water which can be considered as a green solvent. The hydrothermal conversions of an alkali lignin and of phenolic model compounds (vanillin, monobenzone, 2,2′-biphenol) have been studied at 370 and 390 °C, at 25 MPa between 5 and 40 min. Polydispersity of products in term of both chemical structures and molecular weights has been characterized through a new analytical approach combining chromatographic (GC) and spectrometric techniques (Fourier transform ion cyclotron mass spectrometry FT-ICR/MS, NMR). From our experiments, it is clear that lignin conversion occurs via a complex reaction pathway where competitive fragmentation and condensation reactions occur. An original reaction pathway has been suggested from the main emphasized reactions.

Mots clés: Lignin; Hydrothermal liquefaction; Subcritical water; Reaction pathway; Alkylation; Analytical characterization

Domaines: Matériaux

Jérémie Barbier, Nadège Charon, Nathalie Dupassieux, Anne Loppinet-Serani, Laure Mahé, et al.. Hydrothermal conversion of Lignin compounds. A detailled study of fragmentation and condensation reaction pathways. Biomass and Bioenergy, 2012, 46, pp.479-491. ⟨10.1016/j.biombioe.2012.07.011⟩. ⟨hal-00751718⟩