Enhancing lignin dissolution and extraction : The effect of surfactants

• The dissolution and extraction of lignin from biomass represents a great challenge due to the complex structure of this natural phenolic biopolymer. In this work, several surfactants (i.e., non-ionic, anionic, and cationic) were used as additives to enhance the dissolution efficiency of model lignin (kraft) and to boost lignin extraction from pine sawdust residues. To the best of our knowledge, cationic surfactants have never been systematically used for lignin dissolution. It was found that ca. 20 wt.% of kraft lignin is completely solubilized using 1 mol L−1 octyltrimethylammo-nium bromide aqueous solution. A remarkable dissolution efficiency was also obtained using 0.5 mol L−1 polysorbate 20. Furthermore, all surfactants used increased the lignin extraction with formic acid, even at low concentrations, such as 0.01 and 0.1 mol L−1. Higher concentrations of cationic surfactants improve the extraction yield but the purity of extracted lignin decreases. 

Subject headings

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Materialteknik -- Pappers-, massa- och fiberteknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Materials Engineering -- Paper, Pulp and Fiber Technology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Dissolution

Extraction

Lignin

Lignocellulosic waste

Maritime pine

Surfactants

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)