Catalytic conversion of woody biomass into monomeric chemicals by a microwave mediated metal-organic-framework 818

Metal-Organic Framework (MOF) materials have been reported that can be efficiently applied for biomass upgrading, however, their utilization on real wood degradation is limited. In this study, Zr- and Cu-ion contained MOF-818 materials were modified by microwave heating to decrease their crystallinity and particle size, consequently, increasing their catalytic activity for wood fiber degradation. The modified MOF-818 catalyst facilitated cellulose conversion into organic acids by microwave heating at 160 degrees C, achieving a yield of 42.7 %. Additionally, it exhibited the conversion of a lignin beta-O-4 dimer into aromatic monomer compounds at 120 degrees C, achieving a monomeric conversion yield of 64.4 %. Importantly, the modified MOF-818 catalyst also realized the direct conversion of the wood fibers into valuable monomers for the first time by microwave heating at 160 degrees C for 30 min, with a yield of 16.3 %. However, the drawback of the modified MOF-818 catalyst is that it cannot be reused after the wood degradation, which may be because of the decomposition of the MOF-818 during the biomass conversion reaction. The reaction pathways involved in obtaining the products are also discussed. Overall, this study offers a possible approach for wood conversion into monomeric compounds by MOFs catalysts.