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Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 2013, 52 (37), pp 13264–13271.
Oana Chirila , Marian Totolin , Georgeta Cazacu ,Marius Dobromir , Cornelia Vasile .
“P. Poni” Institute of Macomolecular Chemistry, Department of Physical Chemistry of Polymers, 41A Gr. Ghica Voda Alley, Ro 700487 Iasi, Romania and
Faculty of Physics, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University, 11 Carol I Boulevard, Ro 700487 Iasi,Romania
Abstract
The modification of organosolv lignin powder (ALCELL) with different carboxylic acids such as oleic, lactic, and butyric acids and butyrolactone under cold plasma discharge has been performed. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR), and 1H NMR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermal methods (differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetry (TG)) proved that the lignin modification took place. The structure, morphology and thermal properties are specific for each kind of product obtained. The modification degree determined on the basis of XPS data varies from 4 to 13% depending on reagent used. The significant changes in the thermal properties indicate that the modification by cold plasma affected also some bulk properties. This is the case mainly for modification with butyric acid and butyrolactone. It was concluded that the cold plasma modification is an efficient and eco-friendly technique able to produce new valuable products from lignin, widening its compatibility with various polymers and also its applications.
Copyright © 2013 American Chemical Society.
Additional Information
Lignin is a by-product obtained from the pulp and paper industry in the huge quantities. Most part of lignin (about 95%) is used to produce energy, and only 5% are commercially used as dispersants, binding materials, surfactants. From the chemical point of view, lignin can be defined as a very reactive macromolecular compound, because of its functional groups (aromatic rings, phenolic and aliphatic alcohol groups, and methoxy groups) which are possible sites for chemical modification. The lignin can be subjected to modification reaction by the introduction of new functional groups into its structure, thus assuring a more complete exploitation of this natural aromatic polymer. Unfortunately, all chemical modifications use organic solvents, which pollute, environment and increase toxicological problems, while plasma-chemistry technology offers an alternative and efficient way also for lignin functionalization. Lignin can substitute some products based on oil.
For this reason, in this paper the modification of organosolv lignin powder (ALCELL) with different carboxylic acids such as oleic, lactic, and butyric acids and butyrolactone under cold plasma discharge has been performed. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR), and 1H NMR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermal methods (differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA)) proved that the lignin modification took place. The structure, morphology and thermal properties are specific for each kind of modification applied. The modification degree determined on the basis of XPS data varies from 4 to 13% depending on reagent used. The significant changes in the thermal properties indicate that the modification by cold plasma affected also some bulk properties. This is the case mainly for modification with butyric acid and butyrolactone. It was concluded that the cold plasma modification is an efficient and eco-friendly technique able to produce new valuable products from lignin so the widening of its compatibility with various polymers and also its application. Lignin and especially modified lignins can be successfully used in blends and composites with various syntethic polymers because it offers some advantage such as good biocompatibility, good adhesion and adsorption characteristics.
