IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v16y2023i24p8007-d1297922.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Kraft Lignin Electro-Oxidation under Ambient Temperature and Pressure

Author

Listed:
  • Jiashuai Han

    (Department of Chemical Engineering, McGill University, Montréal, QC H3A 0C5, Canada)

  • Roger Lin

    (Department of Chemical Engineering, McGill University, Montréal, QC H3A 0C5, Canada)

  • Mahdi Salehi

    (Department of Chemical Engineering, McGill University, Montréal, QC H3A 0C5, Canada)

  • Amirhossein Farzi

    (Department of Chemical Engineering, McGill University, Montréal, QC H3A 0C5, Canada)

  • Andrew Carkner

    (Department of Chemical Engineering, McGill University, Montréal, QC H3A 0C5, Canada)

  • Kefang Liu

    (Department of Chemical Engineering, McGill University, Montréal, QC H3A 0C5, Canada)

  • Omar Abou El-Oon

    (Department of Chemical Engineering, McGill University, Montréal, QC H3A 0C5, Canada)

  • Olumoye Ajao

    (Natural Resources Canada, Fuels Sector, Analysis and Operations Branch, Ottawa, ON K1A 0E4, Canada)

  • Ali Seifitokaldani

    (Department of Chemical Engineering, McGill University, Montréal, QC H3A 0C5, Canada)

Abstract

Lignin is the largest natural source of aromatic chemicals. Due to its complex polymeric structure, Kraft lignin is under-utilized and usually combusted for heat generation, thus resulting in CO 2 emissions in the Kraft process. To valorize lignin with renewable electricity and to convert it into value-added aromatic chemicals, efficient electrochemical methods need to be discovered, based not only on its apparent yield of building block chemicals but also on its energy efficiency. In this study, the electro-oxidative performance of six different metals was systematically evaluated. The results showed that the synthesized Ni-based catalyst can increase the vanillin and vanillic acid apparent yield by 50–60% compared to when Ni-based catalyst is absent. We also found that the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is more than a competing reaction since the presence of oxygen synergistically aids oxidation of the lignin to increase aromatic chemical production by 63% compared to the sum of vanillin generation from both voltage-only and oxygen-only scenarios. With the novel proposed notion of charge efficiency, we showed that utilizing a thinner layer of Ni catalyst balances the OER and the oxidative reaction of lignin, thus improving the charge efficiency for vanillin by 22%

Suggested Citation

  • Jiashuai Han & Roger Lin & Mahdi Salehi & Amirhossein Farzi & Andrew Carkner & Kefang Liu & Omar Abou El-Oon & Olumoye Ajao & Ali Seifitokaldani, 2023. "Kraft Lignin Electro-Oxidation under Ambient Temperature and Pressure," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-15, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2023:i:24:p:8007-:d:1297922
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/24/8007/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/24/8007/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Pettersson, Karin & Harvey, Simon, 2010. "CO2 emission balances for different black liquor gasification biorefinery concepts for production of electricity or second-generation liquid biofuels," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 35(2), pages 1101-1106.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Isaksson, Johan & Pettersson, Karin & Mahmoudkhani, Maryam & Åsblad, Anders & Berntsson, Thore, 2012. "Integration of biomass gasification with a Scandinavian mechanical pulp and paper mill – Consequences for mass and energy balances and global CO2 emissions," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 44(1), pages 420-428.
    2. Clausen, Lasse R. & Elmegaard, Brian & Houbak, Niels, 2010. "Technoeconomic analysis of a low CO2 emission dimethyl ether (DME) plant based on gasification of torrefied biomass," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 35(12), pages 4831-4842.
    3. Svensson, Elin & Berntsson, Thore, 2014. "The effect of long lead times for planning of energy efficiency and biorefinery technologies at a pulp mill," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 12-16.
    4. Guo, Da-liang & Wu, Shu-bin & Liu, Bei & Yin, Xiu-li & Yang, Qing, 2012. "Catalytic effects of NaOH and Na2CO3 additives on alkali lignin pyrolysis and gasification," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 22-30.
    5. Cherubini, Francesco & Strømman, Anders Hammer & Ulgiati, Sergio, 2011. "Influence of allocation methods on the environmental performance of biorefinery products—A case study," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 55(11), pages 1070-1077.
    6. Jönsson, Johanna & Berntsson, Thore, 2012. "Analysing the potential for implementation of CCS within the European pulp and paper industry," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 44(1), pages 641-648.
    7. Kou, Nannan & Zhao, Fu, 2011. "Techno-economical analysis of a thermo-chemical biofuel plant with feedstock and product flexibility under external disturbances," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(12), pages 6745-6752.
    8. Cao, Changqing & Guo, Liejin & Jin, Hui & Cao, Wen & Jia, Yi & Yao, Xiangdong, 2017. "System analysis of pulping process coupled with supercritical water gasification of black liquor for combined hydrogen, heat and power production," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 238-247.
    9. Joelsson, Jonas & Gustavsson, Leif, 2012. "Swedish biomass strategies to reduce CO2 emission and oil use in an EU context," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 43(1), pages 448-468.
    10. Joelsson, Jonas M. & Gustavsson, Leif, 2012. "Reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and oil use by DME (di-methyl ether) and FT (Fischer-Tropsch) diesel production in chemical pulp mills," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 39(1), pages 363-374.
    11. Lyrio de Oliveira, Lucas & García Kerdan, Iván & de Oliveira Ribeiro, Celma & Oller do Nascimento, Claudio Augusto & Rego, Erik Eduardo & Giarola, Sara & Hawkes, Adam, 2020. "Modelling the technical potential of bioelectricity production under land use constraints: A multi-region Brazil case study," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 123(C).
    12. Laurijssen, Jobien & Faaij, André & Worrell, Ernst, 2012. "Energy conversion strategies in the European paper industry – A case study in three countries," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 102-113.
    13. Pettersson, Karin & Harvey, Simon, 2012. "Comparison of black liquor gasification with other pulping biorefinery concepts – Systems analysis of economic performance and CO2 emissions," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 37(1), pages 136-153.
    14. Clausen, Lasse R. & Elmegaard, Brian & Ahrenfeldt, Jesper & Henriksen, Ulrik, 2011. "Thermodynamic analysis of small-scale dimethyl ether (DME) and methanol plants based on the efficient two-stage gasifier," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(10), pages 5805-5814.
    15. Soualhi, Moncef & El Koujok, Mohamed & Nguyen, Khanh T.P. & Medjaher, Kamal & Ragab, Ahmed & Ghezzaz, Hakim & Amazouz, Mouloud & Ouali, Mohamed-Salah, 2021. "Adaptive prognostics in a controlled energy conversion process based on long- and short-term predictors," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 283(C).
    16. Wetterlund, Elisabeth & Pettersson, Karin & Harvey, Simon, 2011. "Systems analysis of integrating biomass gasification with pulp and paper production – Effects on economic performance, CO2 emissions and energy use," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(2), pages 932-941.
    17. Akbari, Maryam & Oyedun, Adetoyese Olajire & Kumar, Amit, 2018. "Ammonia production from black liquor gasification and co-gasification with pulp and waste sludges: A techno-economic assessment," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 151(C), pages 133-143.
    18. Johansson, Daniella & Franck, Per-Åke & Berntsson, Thore, 2012. "Hydrogen production from biomass gasification in the oil refining industry – A system analysis," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 38(1), pages 212-227.
    19. Kudakasseril Kurian, Jiby & Raveendran Nair, Gopu & Hussain, Abid & Vijaya Raghavan, G.S., 2013. "Feedstocks, logistics and pre-treatment processes for sustainable lignocellulosic biorefineries: A comprehensive review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 25(C), pages 205-219.
    20. Nong, Guangzai & Huang, Lijie & Mo, Haitao & Wang, Shuangfei, 2013. "Investigate the variability of gas compositions and thermal efficiency of bagasse black liquor gasification," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 178-181.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2023:i:24:p:8007-:d:1297922. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.