Magnetic catalyst made from wood waste offers a reusable green-chemistry route
In Iran, researchers at Yasouj University in Iran have developed a magnetic nanocatalyst incorporating lignin, a wood-derived material often discarded as an industrial byproduct. The catalyst combines modified lignin, magnetite nanoparticles and an acidic ionic liquid to produce specialised nitrogen-containing compounds under solvent-free conditions. In laboratory tests, it achieved yields of up to 97% and could be recovered using a magnet and reused for six consecutive reaction cycles with only a slight decline in performance. The approach could add value to biomass waste and reduce catalyst-separation demands, although its commercial scalability and broader industrial applications still require further investigation.
Category: Research
