Catalytic oxidation of lignin for the production of low molecular weight aromatics

Abstract

Lignin offers a number of attractive features as a starting material for chemical production, and the only large scale source of aromatic moieties in nature. It is highly abundant, comprising 15-25 wt% of lignocellulosic feedstocks, such as agricultural materials or forest resources, making it the second most available source of renewable carbon after cellulose.