TY - JOUR
T1 - Fractionation of Technical Lignin from Enzymatically Treated Steam-Exploded Poplar Using Ethanol and Formic Acid
AU - Maltari, Riku
AU - Kontro, Jussi
AU - Koivu, Klaus
AU - Farooq, Muhammad
AU - Mikkilä, Joona
AU - Zhang, Rui
AU - Hildén, Kristiina
AU - Sipilä, Jussi
AU - Nousiainen, Paula A.
N1 - The authors are very grateful to the EU Horizon 2020 project FALCON (nr 720918), Novo Nordisk Foundation grant LIGNICAT (NNF160C0021704), and Academy of Finland project AROMAFUNG (nos 297847 and 298882). Dr Heidi Henrickson is greatly acknowledged for English-language proofreading of this manuscript.
PY - 2022/12/9
Y1 - 2022/12/9
N2 - Lignocellulosic biorefineries produce lignin-rich side streams with high valorization potential concealed behind their recalcitrant structure. Valorization of these residues to chemicals, materials, and fuels increases the profitability of biorefineries. Fractionation is required to reduce the lignins’ structural heterogeneity for further processing. We fractionated the technical biorefinery lignin received after steam explosion and saccharification processes. More homogeneous lignin fractions were produced with high β-O-4′ and aromatic content without residual carbohydrates. Non-toxic biodegradable organic solvents like ethanol and formic acid were used for fractionation and can be adapted to the existing biorefinery processes. Macromolecular properties of the isolated fractions were carefully characterized by structural, chemical, and thermal methods. The ethanol organosolv treatment produced highly soluble lignin with a reasonable yield, providing a uniform material for lignin applications. The organosolv fractionation with formic acid and combined ethanol-formic acid produced modified lignins that, based on thermal analysis, are promising as thermoresponsive materials.
AB - Lignocellulosic biorefineries produce lignin-rich side streams with high valorization potential concealed behind their recalcitrant structure. Valorization of these residues to chemicals, materials, and fuels increases the profitability of biorefineries. Fractionation is required to reduce the lignins’ structural heterogeneity for further processing. We fractionated the technical biorefinery lignin received after steam explosion and saccharification processes. More homogeneous lignin fractions were produced with high β-O-4′ and aromatic content without residual carbohydrates. Non-toxic biodegradable organic solvents like ethanol and formic acid were used for fractionation and can be adapted to the existing biorefinery processes. Macromolecular properties of the isolated fractions were carefully characterized by structural, chemical, and thermal methods. The ethanol organosolv treatment produced highly soluble lignin with a reasonable yield, providing a uniform material for lignin applications. The organosolv fractionation with formic acid and combined ethanol-formic acid produced modified lignins that, based on thermal analysis, are promising as thermoresponsive materials.
KW - biorefinery lignin
KW - solvent fractionation
KW - NMR structural analysis
KW - thermal properties
KW - elemental analysis
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85143057713&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1021/acsapm.2c01665
DO - 10.1021/acsapm.2c01665
M3 - Article
SN - 2637-6105
VL - 4
SP - 9388
EP - 9398
JO - ACS Applied Polymer Materials
JF - ACS Applied Polymer Materials
IS - 12
ER -
