Metal-free catalysts derived from lignin for efficient wet peroxide oxidation

In this work, a wheat and hemp lignin (Sarkanda, Granit S.A.) has been used as raw material for the development of metal-free activated carbons. These materials were tested in the catalytic wet peroxide oxidation (CWPO) of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP; 5 g L-1) during 24 h experiments conducted at relatively mild operating conditions (p = 1 atm, t = 50 °C, pH = 3, catalyst load = 2.5 g L-1 and [H2O2]0 = 17.8 g L-1). First, the lignin was carbonized under N2 atmosphere followed by the activation of the obtained non-porous carbon (LG) under air atmosphere at different temperatures (150 to 350 ºC), leading to the generation of significant porosity.