Author : Raziyeh Ghahremani
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 140 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (123 download)
Book Synopsis Electrochemical Oxidation of Lignin for the Production of Value-added Chemicals by : Raziyeh Ghahremani
Download or read book Electrochemical Oxidation of Lignin for the Production of Value-added Chemicals written by Raziyeh Ghahremani and published by . This book was released on 2020 with total page 140 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Growing renewable energy technologies is not only essential to reduce carbon emissions and mitigate climate change, but also critical to boost global energy security and support a sustainable basis for economic development. Prioritizing new technologies that promote the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy technologies is critical to address future global energy demands and prevent global warming. Lignin is a major renewable and non-fossil source of aromatic compounds that can be used to generate sustainable fuels, fine chemicals, additives, and resins. The application of lignin, however, as a source of aromatic compounds has been largely undeveloped due to the lack of an efficient depolymerization process. Among various methods that have been developed so far for lignin depolymerization, electrochemical conversion is a promising approach for industrial application because it occurs at room temperature and ambient pressure. Nickel-based and lead dioxide-based materials are among the most common electrocatalysts for lignin oxidation, as both are inexpensive and stable in highly alkaline electrolytes, and possess high catalytic activities for lignin oxidation. In this Ph.D. project, several nickel-based alloys were developed through co-electrodeposition of nickel and cobalt; and nickel and tin, to enhance the properties of the nickel catalysts for lignin depolymerization. Incorporation of cobalt to nickel reduces the onset potential for lignin oxidation due to the enhanced properties resulting from doping cobalt to nickel. Electrochemical oxidation of lignin on nickel-cobalt alloys with a higher cobalt content leads to lower energy requirements for lignin depolymerization and higher rates of formation of the functionalized aromatic compounds. Nickel-tin alloys provide higher surface areas and better stabilities for long term lignin oxidation. Lignin depolymerization is the dominant reaction at the low cell voltages when the oxygen evolution faradaic efficiency is low. However, the oxygen evolution begins to be the dominant reaction at higher cell voltages leading to smaller production rates of value-added chemicals.