Electrocatalytic and Photocatalytic Approaches to Lignin Conversion

Lignin is a heterogeneous aromatic macromolecule and represents a potential feedstock suitable to produce valuable chemicals. Molecular catalysts hold great potential for lignin fragmentation. Numerous catalytic systems have been developed for the cleavage of C-O and/or C-C interunit linkages. Especially, selective cleavage of C-O and/or C-C bond linkages is pursued as a useful chemical fragmentation method for lignin valorization to afford valuable products. Traditional lignin depolymerization methods require harsh conditions, resulting in poor product selectivity and unwanted products.Thus, novel methods to convert lignin to valuable chemicals under mild conditions are still appealing. In this book chapter we highlight recent advances in the selective degradation of lignin via photo-and electro-catalysis to achieve predominant C-O/C-C bond cleavages and obtain highly desirable and valuable aromatic products. These depolymerization processes are promising and can serve potentially as a viable method for the conversion of lignin into value-added chemicals.