SELECTIVE TRANSITION-METAL CATALYSIS OF OXYGEN DELIGNIFICATION USING WATER-SOLUBLE SALTS OF POLYOXOMERALATE (POM) ANIONS - PART I - CHEMICAL PRINCIPLES AND PROCESS CONCEPTS

Polymeric metal-oxide anion complexes (polyoxometalates) may provide a means for using transition metals and oxygen (O-2) to selectively del ignify wood or wood pulp in effluent-free (closed) mills. The developm ent of this chemistry, and associated process concepts, evolved from t he observation that certain fungi use transition metals (Cu, Fe acid M n) to selectively transfer electrons from lignin to oxygen. Chemical, physicochemical and engineering issues pertaining to the development o f aqueous transition-metal systems for selective delignification, and for mill closure, are outlined in this brief introduction to the title technology.