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Biofuels and Chemicals from Lignin Based on Pyrolysis

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Production of Biofuels and Chemicals from Lignin

Part of the book series: Biofuels and Biorefineries ((BIOBIO))

Abstract

Pyrolysis is a robust, thermal liquefaction technique that has been widely used to convert biomass for biofuels and chemicals. Upon pyrolysis, the phenylpropane-based lignin polymer is depolymerized into liquid intermediates rich in phenols, which can be upgraded into renewable aromatics. This chapter describes the fundamentals of lignin pyrolysis and catalytic upgrading and reviews the recent advance in the areas. Pyrolysis behavior and pyrolysis products of lignin have been investigated; along with various factors affecting lignin pyrolysis including lignin sources, pyrolysis conditions, inorganic impurities and the presence of carbohydrates. The technical problem in scaling up pyrolysis of technical lignin and recent approaches to overcome this challenge are described. Next, catalytic upgrading of lignin pyrolysis vapor and condensed liquid products using various catalysts and reactive agents are discussed. Finally, the potential applications of lignin pyrolysis products, as well as future prospect for lignin pyrolysis, are presented.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Iowa State University, 50011, Ames, IA, USA

    Xianglan Bai

  2. Deconstruction Division, Joint BioEnergy Institute, 94608, Emeryville, CA, USA

    Kwang Ho Kim

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  1. Xianglan Bai
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  2. Kwang Ho Kim
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Correspondence to Xianglan Bai .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Biomass Group, College of Engineering, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China

    Zhen Fang

  2. Research Center of Supercritical Fluid Technology, Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan

    Richard L. Smith, Jr.

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Bai, X., Kim, K.H. (2016). Biofuels and Chemicals from Lignin Based on Pyrolysis. In: Fang, Z., Smith, Jr., R. (eds) Production of Biofuels and Chemicals from Lignin. Biofuels and Biorefineries. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-1965-4_9

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