Liquefaction of lignin by polyethyleneglycol and glycerol

Enzymatic hydrolysis lignin (EHL), isolated from the enzymatic hydrolysis residues of the biomass, was liquefied using the mixed solvents of polyethyleneglycol (PEG) and glycerol at the temperature of 130–170 °C with sulfuric acid as a catalyst. The influences of liquefaction parameters, such as the molecular weight of PEG, mass ratio of sulfuric acid to EHL, liquefaction temperature and time, and mass ratio of liquid (liquefying cosolvent) to solid (EHL) on the residue content and hydroxyl number were discussed. The FT-IR spectrum result showed that the liquefaction product of EHL was polyether polyol. The hydroxyl number of the liquefaction product was 80–120 mgKOH/g higher than that of PEG.