KRAFT LIGNIN AS A FEEDSTOCK TO PRODUCE BIOFUELS AND RENEWABLE CHEMICALS

The utilization of biomass, obtained from organic matter like plants and wastes, is crucial in the pursuit of sustainable and renewable resources. Its importance lies in its capability to serve as a renewable energy source, leading to a diversified energy mix, while also mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. Lignocellulosic biomass, particularly lignin, shows great potential for replacing fossil fuels. Despite this, its utilization remains at an early stage due to difficulties in its treatment. Nonetheless, it is imperative to develop new methodologies for exploiting lignin's potential to obtain chemicals and fuels from renewable materials, considering the limited nature of fossil resources. Kraft lignin is the most produced technical lignin in the market and its sustainable and valuable utilization holds significant implications for industry. This thesis focuses on the valorization of Kraft lignin and aims to overcome the challenges associated with its utilization. The sulfur content of Kraft Lignin has posed a challenging issue requiring the implementation of various strategies. These have included enhancing our understanding of the production mechanism of sulfur compounds and their evolution during the pyrolysis process. We attempted to establish pathways for enhancing the value of the oil, through combining pyrolysis steps and catalytic studies. Throughout the process, we always considered the undesirable effects of sulfur on both biofuel applications and chemical production.