Reaction of Substituted Phenols with Lignin Char: Dual Oxidative and Reductive Pathways Depending on Substituents and Conditions

Biomass chars are known to be intrinsically redox-reactive toward some organic compounds, but the mechanisms are still unclear. To address this, a char made anoxically at 500 degrees C from dealkaline lignin was reacted either in the fresh state or after 180-day aging in air with p-nitrophenol (NO2-P), p-hydroxybenzaldehyde (CHO-P), phenol (H-P), or p-methoxyphenol (MeO-P). The reactions were carried out under oxic or anoxic conditions. Degradation occurred in all cases. Both oxidation and reduction products were identified, with yields dependent on the presence or absence of air during reaction or storage. They included oligomers, amines, and ring-hydroxylated compounds, among others. Exposure to air suppressed sorption, annihilated reducing sites, and provided a source of reactive oxygen species that assisted degradation. Sorption suppression was due to the incorporation of hydrophilic groups by chemisorption of oxygen, and possibly blockage of sites by products. Fresh char has comparable electron-donating and accepting capacity, whereas there is a preponderance of electron-accepting over donating capacity in aged char. Under anoxic conditions, both oxidation and reduction occurred. Under oxic conditions or after aging in air, oxidation predominated, and linear free energy relationships were found between the rate constant and the Hammett or Brown substituent electronic parameter or the standard electrode potential of the phenol. The results demonstrate that chars possess heterogeneous redox activities depending on reaction pairs, reaction conditions, and aging.