Miniaturized determination of ash content in kraft lignin samples using oxidative thermogravimetric analysis

• A study has been made of several aspects of determination of ash content in kraft lignin samples using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Three different methods were used; with the main differences between the methods being that two have a temperature hold at 250 deg C to remove volatiles and that the three methods use different maximum temperatures, namely 525, 550 and 575 deg C, respectively. The three kraft lignins used were produced using the LignoBoost lignin isolation process. It has been demonstrated that the results obtained by the different temperature programmes showed no significant difference. The results were comparable with those from using oven ignition. Moreover, the limit of quantification was several orders of magnitude lower than when using oven ignition. It has been recommended that if TGA is used for determination of ash content, a temperature programme from a standard method should be used, which should be mentioned together with the results. The temperature programme in method one (corresponding to ISO 1762) was the shortest and the preferable method. A well as requiring less labour due to fewer movements in the analytical protocol, the TGA methods enabled a high sample throughput due to autosampling possibilities.

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

analytical method

ash content

biorefinery

kraft lignin

thermogravimetry

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)