Ternary molten salt-assisted lignin pyrolysis for the co-production of monophenols and value-added carbon materials

In this paper, the ternary molten salt (Li2CO3-Na2CO3-K2CO3) was introduced into the lignin pyrolysis process for the co-production of monophenols and value-added carbon materials. The effect of lignin/molten salt ratios (i.e., 3:1, 1:1, and 1:3) on lignin pyrolysis behaviour was investigated herein. The pyrolytic products were characterized by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, ultimate analyses, scanning electron microscopy, nitrogen adsorption analyses, and Raman analyses. Results showed that molten salt media can promote the conversion of bulky phenolic oligomers into mono-phenols by enhancing the cracking and deoxygenation reactions. P-type phenols (49.76 %) were produced when the lignin/molten salt mass ratio was 1:3. The porosity and aromaticity of biochar were regulated in-situ using molten salt. The possible catalytic effect of molten salt on lignin pyrolysis was proposed. This study provides a case reference for lignin waste resource utilization.