Lignin removal from synthetic wastewater via Fenton-like reaction over Cu supported on MCM-41 derived from bagasse: Optimization and reaction intermediates

Abstract

concentration of 1 mL/L, catalyst loading of 1.0 g/L, and reaction time of 30 min. These conditions were validated three times and the achieved percentage of lignin degradation was 95 ± 2%. This is close to the value of 95% used in the RSM to determine the optimum operating conditions, thus verifying the model. The catalyst was stable and functioned well under the optimum design conditions. Moreover, the reaction could be used to obtain high-value intermediate products if stopped after 5 min. Finally, lignin was degraded into vanillin, a higher-value product. As expected, the proposed Fenton-like approach expanded the pH working range from less than 4 to 5-9.