Reductive catalytic fractionation (RCF) has been pursued by researchers in both biomass conversion and lignin valorization fields, and realized in batch systems, such as pilot-scale ethanol/water reactors and multi-liter stirred autoclaves. However, continuous RCF with efficient mass transfer and short residence time has not yet been achieved.
Here, the team propose a high-pressure screw reaction system integrated with acid-promoted ethanol/water solvent, and demonstrate continuous depolymerization of pine lignin into guaiacol monomers. The system uses 10% Pd/C, 3% phosphoric acid, 2 MPa H₂ at 210 ℃, and achieves a 12% monomer yield within 8 min. The production efficiency reaches a production efficiency of 243 mg/(g·h), about 10 times higher than that in batch process.
This work provides a continuous route to aromatic monomers from lignocellulosic biomass and opens a viable way to industrial-scale lignin-first biorefining. The work titled “Scalable produection of aromatic monomers from pine biomass through reductive catalytic fractionation in a continuous mod”, was published on Journal of Forestry Engineering (published on Sep. 25, 2026).
DOI: 10.13360/j.issn.2096-1359.202504009