Catalytic hydrotreatment of kraft lignin into aromatic alcohols over nickel-rhenium supported on niobium oxide catalyst

[Display omitted] •Kraft lignin depolymerization was performed over 5Ni-5Re/Nb2O5 catalyst.•Liquid product was rich in low-molecular-weight aromatic alcohol compounds.•The oxophilicity of Nb2O5 was beneficial for promoting cleavage of C-O bonds.•Ethanol was more favorable for the hydrogenolysis of Kraft lignin. Direct hydrogenolysis of Kraft lignin was catalyzed over a series of supported Ni or Re catalysts in ethanol solvent. The best results showed that the oil yield of 96.70 wt% was obtained with less char formation at 330 °C for 3 h over 5Ni-5Re/Nb2O5 catalyst. Product analysis demonstrated that the monomer yield of 35.41 wt% was given under mild condition, and low-molecular-weight aromatic alcohols were the main component in the liquid products. Ethanol was found to be more effective in H2 production and facilitated the transformation of phenolic monomers to aromatic chemicals. The results confirmed that the optimal 5Ni-5Re/Nb2O5 catalyst had superior oxophilicity and appropriate acid sites, which improved the ability to directly remove the methoxyl and hydroxyl groups of lignin-derived phenolic compounds without aromatic ring hydrogenation. In addition, the temperature, time and solvent effects on the lignin depolymerization were also investigated.