Abstract
An analysis of the energy and material consumption for three different lignin conversion pathways has been carried out in order to assess their relative promise. Recommendations to allow for improved performance based on the current state of the art have been made, with particular focus on the use of heterogeneous nanocatalysts. Lignin is currently burned for heat and power in industrial processes, but its aromaticity and high energy content make it a good source for fuels and chemical feedstocks. The conversion of lignin to value added products has been the subject of a number of excellent reviews, and it is upon this literature as well as recent publications that the processes were selected. The analysis includes consideration of the thermodynamics of conversion, the technical feasibility of each process, and the energy and material balance. For each of the processes, improvements to future research activities have been suggested to move the processes from the bench-scale to large-scale demonstrations. This analysis is not meant to be comprehensive, in terms of process, feedstock, or selected criteria. However, this work illustrates a path forward following pre-established goals of thermodynamic efficiency, selectivity, and feasibility.
