MnO2 oxidative degradation of lignin and electrochemical recovery study

Effective degradation of lignin and further production of small-molecule aromatic chemicals are of great importance in sustainable chemistry. In this experiment, lignin was efficiently oxidatively degraded under mild conditions using inexpensive manganese dioxide rather than a precious metal catalyst, with a lignin degradation efficiency of 66%. A double electrolytic cell system was then used to achieve the recycling of manganese dioxide at the anode while producing hydrogen at the cathode. GC-MC analysis showed that the lignin was degraded to chemicals containing small aromatic molecules such as benzoic acid and benzyl acetate. This experiment provides a new pathway for the cyclic degradation of lignin.