Wenbo Peng

[Advisor: Dr. Zhaohui Tong]

will propose a doctoral thesis entitled

GRAPHENE OXIDE-BASED CATALYSTS FOR WASTE LIGNIN VALORIZATION TO VALUE-ADDED BIOCHEMICALS

On 

Thursday, July 25th at 1:00 p.m.

ES&T L1120

Abstract

As the most abundant aromatic polymer in nature, lignin is considered a promising resource for producing value-added biochemicals, such as monophenols and biofuels. However, achieving high conversion and selectivity in lignin valorization remains challenging.  Among various valorization methods, oxidative depolymerization can selectively cleave the C-C and C-O bonds between the fundamental units of ligninin lignin, producing monophenolic products. However, this method faces limitations due to low conversion and yield, the need for harsh conditions (e.g., high temperature, high pressure, or toxic solvents), the use of expensive catalysts, and the complexity of the products. Therefore, it is crucial to design cost-effective catalysts that are efficient and selective. Graphene oxide (GO) is a good candidate as the catalyst for lignin depolymerization for lignin valorization due to its large surface area, abundant functional groups, and excellent dispersibility in various solvents. Furthermore, modifying GO with metal nanoparticles, such as copper oxide (CuO), enhances its catalytic activity and selectivity. This thesis aims to develop GO and metal-modified GO catalysts for efficient and selective lignin depolymerization.

Committee:

Dr. Christopher Luettgen - School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering

Dr. Andreas Bommarius - School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering

Dr. Carson Meredith - School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering

Dr. Yongsheng Chen - School of Civil and Environmental