Hydrogenolysis of guaiacol and lignin to phenols over Ni/Nb2O5HZSM-5 catalyst

• The Ni/Nb 2 O 5 HZSM-5 exhibits a higher yield of phenol (49.1 mmol phenol ·g Ni −1 · h −1 ), currently achieving the highest phenol yield among Ni-based catalysts. • The strong interaction of Nb with the HZSM-5 changed the electronic state of Nb and enhanced the resistance of the catalyst to high temperature and mechanical stress. • Overall, this study provides a pathway for the conversion of biomass resources in a pure water reaction system, breaking the limitations of the traditional reliance on high-pressure and precious-metal catalysts, and opening up a direction for the development of biomass conversion . Selective hydrogenolysis of C Ar -O bonds in lignin to produce aromatic compounds typically necessitates severe conditions. We developed a Ni/Nb 2 O 5 HZSM-5 catalyst that facilitates direct cleavage of guaiacol's aryl ether bonds at reduced temperatures (200 °C) and pressure (0.1 MPa H 2 ), achieving a conversion of 89.5 % with the selectivity of phenol at 81.7 %, while retaining its activity after five cycles. The Ni/Nb 2 O 5 HZSM-5 exhibits a higher yield of phenol (49.1 mmol phenol ·g Ni −1 · h −1 ), currently achieving the highest phenol yield among Ni-based catalysts. The addition of Nb 2 O 5 enhances the dispersion of Ni and augments the effective surface area. In addition, the strong interaction of Nb with the HZSM-5 changed the electronic state of Nb and enhanced the resistance of the catalyst to high temperature and mechanical stress. Employing this catalyst for lignin depolymerization in an aqueous medium led to a 17.0 wt% yield of alkyl phenolic compounds. This approach represents an advancement in biomass resource conversion, circumventing the dependency on high-pressure and precious-metal catalysts, and signaling a new trajectory for sustainable biomass utilization in scientific research.