Sustainable aromatic production from catalytic pyrolysis of lignin mediated by a novel solid Lewis acid catalyst

•WOx-TiO2-Al2O3 exhibits a catalytic capacity comparable to HZSM-5.•The Ti3+ in W-O-Ti bond can act as Lewis acid sites to bind to C-O bonds.•The increase in Lewis acid favors the deoxygenation reaction.•The coupling effect of WOx and Al2O3 promotes the alkylation reactions of aromatics.