Fractionation of Lignin with Decreased Heterogeneity: Based on a Detailed Characteristics Study of Sequentially Extracted Softwood Kraft Lignin

Abstract In general, the electro-spinning of lignin requires it to be functionalised and/or blended with synthetic or natural polymers. This paper reports on the use of solvent fractionated lignin-lignin blend to electro-spin BioChoice® softwood Kraft lignin. The blend consisted of acetone-soluble and ethanol-soluble lignin in a binary solvent of acetone and DMSO. Solvent fractionation was used to purify lignin where the ash content was reduced in the soluble lignin fractions from 1.24% to ~0.1%. The corresponding value for conventional acid-washing in sulphuric acid was 0.34%. A custom-made electro-spinning apparatus was used to produce the nano-fibres. Heat treatment procedures were developed for drying the electro-spun fibres prior to oxidation and carbonisation; this was done to prevent fibre fusion. The lignin fibres were oxidised at 250⁰C, carbonised at 1000⁰C and 1500⁰C. The cross-section of the fibres was circular and they were observed to be void-free. The longitudinal sections showed that the fibres were not fused. Thus, this procedure demonstrated that solvent fractionated lignin can be electro-spun without using plasticisers or polymer blends using common laboratory solvents and subsequently carbonised to produce carbon fibres with a circular cross-section.

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Methylation of softwood kraft lignin with dimethyl carbonate

Green Chemistry ◽

10.1039/c4gc01759e ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 17 (2) ◽

pp. 1077-1087 ◽

Cited By ~ 49

Author(s):

Sanghamitra Sen ◽

Shradha Patil ◽

Dimitris S. Argyropoulos

Keyword(s):

Thermal Stability ◽

Dimethyl Carbonate ◽

Kraft Lignin ◽

Softwood Kraft Lignin

Methylation of lignin is essential for inducing thermal stability when a multitude of thermoplastic applications are envisaged.

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Carbohydrate-free and highly soluble softwood kraft lignin fractions by aqueous acetone evaporation fractionation

Nordic Pulp & Paper Research Journal ◽

10.3183/npprj-2017-32-04_p485-492_jaaskelainen ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 32 (4) ◽

pp. 485-492 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Anna-Stiina Jääskeläinen ◽

Pia Willberg Keyriläinen ◽

Tiina Liitiä ◽

Tarja Tamminen

Keyword(s):

Kraft Lignin ◽

Aqueous Acetone ◽

Softwood Kraft Lignin

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Insights into the Potential of Hardwood Kraft Lignin to Be a Green Platform Material for Emergence of the Biorefinery

Polymers ◽

10.3390/polym12081795 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (8) ◽

pp. 1795

Author(s):

Juliana M. Jardim ◽

Peter W. Hart ◽

Lucian Lucia ◽

Hasan Jameel

Keyword(s):

Research And Development ◽

Polymer Blends ◽

Carbon Fibers ◽

Aromatic Compounds ◽

Critical Review ◽

Black Liquor ◽

Kraft Lignin ◽

Softwood Kraft Lignin ◽

Structure Properties

Lignin is an abundant, renewable, and relatively cheap biobased feedstock that has potential in energy, chemicals, and materials. Kraft lignin, more specifically, has been used for more than 100 years as a self-sustaining energy feedstock for industry after which it has finally reached more widespread commercial appeal. Unfortunately, hardwood kraft lignin (HWKL) has been neglected over these years when compared to softwood kraft lignin (SWKL). Therefore, the present work summarizes and critically reviews the research and development (R&D) dealing specifically with HWKL. It will also cover methods for HWKL extraction from black liquor, as well as its structure, properties, fractionation, and modification. Finally, it will reveal several interesting opportunities for HWKL that include dispersants, adsorbents, antioxidants, aromatic compounds (chemicals), and additives in briquettes, pellets, hydrogels, carbon fibers and polymer blends and composites. HWKL shows great potential for all these applications, however more R&D is needed to make its utilization economically feasible and reach the levels in the commercial lignin market commensurate with SWKL. The motivation for this critical review is to galvanize further studies, especially increased understandings in the field of HWKL, and hence amplify much greater utilization.

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Use of acetylated softwood kraft lignin as filler in synthetic polymers

Fibers and Polymers ◽

10.1007/s12221-012-1310-6 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 13 (10) ◽

pp. 1310-1318 ◽

Cited By ~ 36

Author(s):

Heonyoung Jeong ◽

Jongshin Park ◽

Sunghoon Kim ◽

Jungmin Lee ◽

Jae Whan Cho

Keyword(s):

Synthetic Polymers ◽

Kraft Lignin ◽

Softwood Kraft Lignin

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Correlation of Elongational Fluid Properties to Fiber Diameter in Electrospinning of Softwood Kraft Lignin Solutions

Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research ◽

10.1021/ie403724y ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 53 (7) ◽

pp. 2697-2705 ◽

Cited By ~ 29

Author(s):

Ian Dallmeyer ◽

Frank Ko ◽

John F. Kadla

Keyword(s):

Fiber Diameter ◽

Kraft Lignin ◽

Fluid Properties ◽

Softwood Kraft Lignin

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Effect of Low-Temperature Pyrolysis on the Properties of Jute Fiber-Reinforced Acetylated Softwood Kraft Lignin-Based Thermoplastic Polyurethane

Polymers ◽

10.3390/polym10121338 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (12) ◽

pp. 1338

Author(s):

Hyun-gyoo Roh ◽

Sunghoon Kim ◽

Jungmin Lee ◽

Jongshin Park

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Properties ◽

Low Temperature ◽

Water Absorption ◽

Thermoplastic Polyurethane ◽

Kraft Lignin ◽

Interfacial Bonding ◽

Jute Fiber ◽

Fiber Reinforced ◽

Low Temperature Pyrolysis ◽

Softwood Kraft Lignin

Short jute fiber-reinforced acetylated lignin-based thermoplastic polyurethane (JF reinforced ASKLTPU) was prepared and characterized as a short-fiber-reinforced elastomer with carbon-neutrality and biodegradability. The acetylated softwood kraft lignin-based thermoplastic polyurethane (ASKLTPU) was prepared with polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a soft segment. Short jute fiber was modified using low-temperature pyrolysis up to the temperatures of 200, 250, and 300 °C in order to remove non-cellulosic compounds of jute fibers for enhancing interfacial bonding and reducing hydrophilicity with the ASKLTPU matrix. JF-reinforced ASKLTPUs with fiber content from 5 to 30 wt % were prepared using a melt mixing method followed by hot-press molding at 160 °C. The JF-reinforced ASKLTPUs were characterized for their mechanical properties, dynamic mechanical properties, thermal transition behavior, thermal stability, water absorption, and fungal degradability. The increased interfacial bonding between JF and ASKLTPU using low-temperature pyrolysis was observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and also proved via interfacial shear strength measured using a single-fiber pull-out test. The mechanical properties, thermal properties, and water absorption aspects of JF-reinforced ASKLTPU were affected by increased interfacial bonding and reduced hydrophilicity from low-temperature pyrolysis. In the case of the degradation test, the PEG component of ASKLPTU matrix highly affects degradation and deterioration.

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