Electrocatalytic degradation of aspen lignin over Pb/PbO2 electrode in alkali solution

•Electrochemical catalysis degradation of aspen lignin in the TDE reactor•The lignin was cracked by OH and hydrogenated by H atom.•Products 4-methylanisole, acetovanillone, 2,6-dimethoxyphenol and so on

A novel procedure about electrochemical catalysis degradation of aspen lignin with Pb/PbO2 anode in the three-dimensional electrode (TDE) reactor was investigated. SEM, XRD and cyclic voltammogram tests were employed to study the surface morphology, composition and the electrochemical redox performance of the fabricated Pb/PbO2 electrode. The lignin was cracked by OH and hydrogenated by [H] atom generated from alkaline water electrolysis, leading to the production of 4-methylanisole and other products. Raw material lignin concentration, current density, temperature and time were optimized. The pathway of electrocatalytic degradation and hydrogenation process of lignin in alkaline solution was also discussed.