Enhancing aromatic hydrocarbon formation via catalytic depolymerization of lignin waste over Ru/WOx/N-C catalyst

•Higher lignin conversion and monomer yield were obtained by 5Ru/30WOx/N-C catalyst.•More arenes yield was produced over connected multi-stage pore structure catalyst.•Phenolic compounds achieved hydrodeoxygenation over Ru metal and WOx oxophilic sites.•The in-situ hydrogen produced by methanol was favorable to the lignin hydrogenolysis.