Efficient conversion of lignin into a water-soluble polymer by a chelator-mediated Fenton reaction: optimization of H2O2 use and performance as a dispersant

Room temperature Fenton (FEN) and chelator-mediated Fenton (CMF) reactions were examined for transforming lignin into a water-soluble polymer. Compared to depolymerization of lignin, this has the advantage of potentially yielding a product directly without requiring further upgrading. With the goal of optimizing the use of the expensive reagent H2O2, initial studies were performed with lignin from an organsolv process (OS) in thin films with a multi-well format that allows simultaneous assay of 76 reaction conditions. The results showed that H2O2 is more efficiently used in CMF compared with FEN, and that the greatest amount of lignin solubilized per mass of H2O2 consumed occurs at low initial concentrations of H2O2 (