Quantitative insights on de/repolymerization and deoxygenation of lignin in subcritical water.

The objective of the study was to investigate alkali lignin polymerization/depolymerization pathways in subcritical water (SW) without additives. Following a SW treatment at 200, 250, 275 and 300 °C, the products were subjected to a comprehensive suite of analyses addressing the product speciation and molecular weight (MW) distribution. The MW reduction (1.