Hydrogenation of Biomass Extracts for Production of Chemicals Concurrently from Sugars and Lignin

The effects of active metals and supports in the hydrogenation of hot water extracts of switchgrass will be presented.  Both rhodium and palladium effectively catalyze the hydrogenation of the lignin components to aromatic acids while simultaneously catalyzing the hydrogenation of the sugar components glycan and xylan to alcohols.