Electrochemical Upgrading of Biomass-Derived Intermediates: Solid Polymer Electrolyte Systems

Electrochemical upgrading of a biomass pyrolysis model compound, guaiacol, in a 3-electrode H-cell and a flow-through solid polymer electrolyte reactor over a Ru/C catalyst was compared to thermochemical vapor-phase upgrading. Electrochemical upgrading achieved both hydrogenation and deoxygenation of guaiacol and produced a different product slate than thermochemical upgrading methods.