Oxidative conversion of lignin over cobalt-iron mixed oxides prepared via the alginate gelation

The depolymerization of polymer lignin model to low molecular weight products was studied in water, at 200 °C under 100 MPa of 10% O2 using cobalt-iron mixed oxides as catalysts. These nanostructured oxides with different Co/Fe ratios were prepared via alginate gelation. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, and size exclusion chromatography were used to study the influence of the Fe/Co ratios on the structure and the proprieties of the oxides as well as the morphology, the structure, and the composition of the obtained degraded products. The results showed that the oxides used in this study were versatile catalysts with a high catalytic activity for lignin depolymerization. Furthermore, these oxides demonstrated high yield and high selectivity towards aromatic compounds.