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In relation to this article, we declare that there is no conflict of interest.
Publication history
Received September 13, 2025
Revised November 1, 2025
Accepted November 10, 2025
Available online March 25, 2026
articles This is an Open-Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/bync/3.0) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
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Transition Metals Impregnated Red mud-derived Catalysts for the Valorization of Alkali Lignin to Monomeric Phenols

School of Environmental Engineering , University of Seoul 1School of Chemical Engineering , Chonnam National University 2Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering , Hanbat National University
catalica@uos.ac.kr
Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering, March 2026, 43(4), 997-1009(13)
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11814-025-00605-y

Abstract

Lignin, a major byproduct of biorefi nery processes, represents a promising renewable resource for producing phenolic 

compounds, off ering a sustainable alternative to petrochemical-derived chemicals. This study investigated the eff ects of 

transition metals loaded industrial-waste red mud (RM)-derived catalysts (Co/RM, Cu/RM, and Ni/RM) for the hydrothermal

liquefaction of alkali lignin. The results revealed the eff ective breaking of the lignin structure with the Co/RM 

catalyst for the maximum bio-oil production (20.7 wt%) at 250 ℃/15 min. The maximum conversion (40.3%) was determined

with Cu/RM catalyst, with a high proportion of gas yield (26.6 wt%). GC-MS analysis revealed the promotion of 

demethoxylation with the utilization of a catalyst by a signifi cant decrease in the selectivity for methoxy phenols. The high 

HHV value (31.8 MJkg − 1 ) of catalytic bio-oil (Co/RM-250) exhibits the upgradation of lignin into high-calorifi c bio-oil. 

The utilization of byproduct char (Co-RM-250) was also examined for the adsorption of pharmaceutical pollutants, such as 

tetracycline, which showed a maximum adsorption of 23% without any further pretreatment of Co/RM immobilized char. 

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