Phenols from Lignin

Lignin accounts for approximately 25–35 % of the organic matrix of wood and lignocellulosic biomass in itself is the most abundant renewable material on the planet. It has long been recognized as a potential feedstock for producing chemicals, fuels, and materials. Despite this excellent availabilty of lignin it is a low value compound and has so far mainly been used as energy source in combustion applications. Less than 5 % are being processed for other purposes. This article discusses the potential for an increased use of lignin as a renewable raw material, possible conversion routes towards monomeric phenolic compounds, and applications for these products. A brief overview about present state‐of‐the‐art is given and a high‐yielding, one‐step approach of producing alkylated phenolic compounds from lignin is presented. Different thermochemical conversion routes of the natural polymer lignin towards monomeric phenolic compounds are discussed. An overview about present state‐of‐the‐art is given and a high‐yielding, one‐step approach of producing alkylated phenols from lignin is presented.