Noguchi Institute of Japan

Noguchi A catalytic process for hydrogenating lignin to a mixture of monophenols. Invented in 1952 at the Noguchi Institute of Japan, but not commercialized because the yields were uneconomic. 

Based on experience obtained by hydrogenating coal during World War II, the Noguchi Institute of Japan began to study lignin liquefaction. By 1952 they had discovered a superior catalyst which converted a substantial portion of the lignin into relatively few monophenols and substantially suppressed additional hydrogenation of the phenols. This catalyst was improved some years later and, based on these two catalysts,... 

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