Production of BTX through Catalytic Depolymerization of Lignin

Lignin is the only nature renewable resource which can provide large quantities of aromatic compounds. In the work, transformation of lignin into benzene, toluene, and xylenes (BTX) was investigated over the HZSM-5, HY, and MCM-22 catalysts, and the HZSM-5 catalyst showed the highest carbon yield of BTX. The reaction condition, including temperature, the gas flow rate, and the catalyst/lignin ratio, was also investigated. The carbon yield of BTX reached about 25.3 C-mol% over HZSM-5 catalyst under T=550 oC, f(N₂)=300 cm3/min, and catalyst/lignin ratio of 2.