Characterization of Products of Thermochemical Liquefaction of Kraft Lignin using Nickel 6458P Catalyst

Abstract

The thermo chemical liquefaction of Kraft Lignin was carried out using Nickel 6458P catalyst at 350^oC in different atmospheric conditions at 2 hours reaction time to produce a mixture gaseous, liquid and chary product which are all capable of use as fuels and chemicals. The product gases were quantified using the well-known gas equations and identified qualitatively by infrared spectroscopy and gas chromatography. The chars were characterized by elemental analysis.  The liquid product obtained after atmospheric and vacuum distillation was separated into various fractions by solvent extraction and column chromatography. These fractions were subsequently characterized by elemental analysis, gas-liquid chromatography – mass spectrometry, high performance liquid chromatography, infrared spectroscopy and 13C nuclear magnetic spectroscopy.