Optimisation of Acetic Acid Lignofibre Organosolv Process

Birch wood chips were cooked in acetic acid in the presence of phosphinic acid according to the Lignofibre (LGF) organosolv process. The cooking trials were performed according to an experimental design with process time, temperature, and the presence (or absence) of alkaline pre-extraction as the factors. Delignification was enhanced by increased temperature and alkaline pre-extraction. Alkaline extraction also limited xylose hydrolysis, as well as the further degradation of xylose into furfural. Degradation and condensation reactions began to take place between dissolved carbohydrates and lignin at higher temperatures and longer cooking times. Formation of pseudolignin, most likely because of reactions between lignin and furfural, was also observed under the harshest cooking conditions. To avoid these unwanted side-reactions, minimise viscosity losses, and preserve the yield, the LGF process time should be limited to 3 to 4 h at 150 °C

Optimisation of acetic acid lignofibre organosolv process

Birch wood chips were cooked in acetic acid in the presence of phosphinic acid according to the Lignofibre (LGF) organosolv process. The cooking trials were performed according to an experimental design with process time, temperature, and the presence (or absence) of alkaline pre-extraction as the factors. Delignification was enhanced by increased temperature and alkaline pre-extraction. Alkaline extraction also limited xylose hydrolysis, as well as the further degradation of xylose into furfural. Degradation and condensation reactions began to take place between dissolved carbohydrates and lignin at higher temperatures and longer cooking times. Formation of pseudolignin, most likely because of reactions between lignin and furfural, was also observed under the harshest cooking conditions. To avoid these unwanted side-reactions, minimise viscosity losses, and preserve the yield, the LGF process time should be limited to 3 to 4 h at 150 °C

Esterified lignin coating as water vapor and oxygen barrier for fiber-based packaging

Abstract Lignin, esterified with palmitic and lauric acid chloride, has been studied for the application as coating on fiber-based packaging material. The aim was to improve the barrier properties against water vapor and oxygen of paperboard. The esterification was followed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and gel permeation chromatography measurements. The lignin esters were applied on paperboard and formed a continuous film. The moisture barrier property of the coated paperboards was characterized by the water vapor transmission rate (WVTR). A significant decrease in WVTR was observed, for example, 40 g m-2 (for 24 h) for a paperboard coated with 10.4 g m-2 hardwood kraft lignin palmitate. The contact angle of water on the lignin ester coatings was high and stable. For all paperboard samples coated with lignin esters, a significant decrease in oxygen transmission rate was observed. Accordingly, lignin palmitate and laurate have a high potential as a barrier materials in packaging applications.</jats:p