LIGNIN DEPOLIMERIZATION:

OPPORTUNITIES AND PERSPECTIVES

Abstract

A residue, called lignin, is generated in the chemical treatment of lignocellulosic materials in order to obtain cellulose. Lignin has become an attractive product because it constitutes a potential source of precursors of high added value, from its depolymerization, and from it we obtain aromatic compounds of low molecular weight. In this work, the alkaline hydrolysis of bagasse lignin was done by using a sodium hydroxide load of 7 %, a solid to liquid ratio of 1:10, temperatures at 100 and 180 °C respectively, for 6 h, in such a way that occurs the rupture of C-C and C-O bonds. Subsequently, extraction in toluene was done and the organic phase was characterized
by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS).