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Physico-chemical properties of fractionated softwood kraft lignin and its potential use as a bio-based component in blends with polyethylene

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Abstract

This study describes a systematic characterization of lignin samples fractionated from industrial black liquor and an evaluation of their suitability as a component (50 wt.%) in thermoplastic blends with polyethylene with a special emphasis on tensile and impact properties. Industrial softwood kraft lignin was isolated from three different cooking stages and subsequently fractionated by sequential acid precipitation. Altogether, nine lignin fractions were subjected to several chemical/thermal analyses to compare their structural features and thermal decomposition properties. Lignin samples precipitated at pH 10.5 exhibited the highest molecular weight (M w) and purity, demonstrated by the lowest content of sulfur and polysaccharides. In contrast, samples precipitated at a low pH in general exhibited higher amount of impurities and low methoxyl group content. It was found that lignin precipitated at low pH contained the biggest share of sulfur present in kraft lignin. However, about 70 % of sulfur in these samples is present in non-bounded form and could be extracted with CS2. Additionally, low M w lignin exhibited a significantly lower T g value, which could favor material processing. A notable decrease in the thermal stability of the tested lignin samples was observed with a decrease in the molecular weight. In addition, lignin with a low M w, high phenolic hydroxyl groups, and lower number of double bonds seems to be favorable for increased tensile strength and elastic modulus of the polyethylene–lignin blend materials.

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Abbreviations

a c :

Charpy impact strength

a cN :

Charpy notched impact strength

ASL:

Acid-soluble lignin

BL:

Black liquor

DBE:

Double bond equivalent

DTG:

First derivative of TGA curve

DWL:

Dissolved wood lignin

E-Modulus:

Tensile modulus

HDPE:

High-density polyethylene

HPAEC:

High-performance anion-exchange chromatography

IC:

Ion chromography

M w :

Molecular weight

NMR:

Nuclear magnetic resonance

OMe:

Methoxyl group content

PE:

Polyethylene

Ph-OH:

Phenolic hydroxyl group content

T1, T2, T3:

Max degradation peaks (thermal analysis)

T g :

Glass transition temperature

TGA:

Thermal gravimetric analysis

ε b :

Elongation at break

σ max :

Tensile strength

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Acknowledgements

The financial support of this work by TEKES, Forest Cluster, and TES is gratefully appreciated. The authors acknowledge Kari Kovasin and Metsä Fiber for their kind offer of BL samples. We thank Dr. Hendrik Wetzel (Fraunhofer IAP) for providing assistance with elemental analysis and DSC measurements and Myrtel Kåll (Aalto University) for her help with IC analysis. We also thank Dr Marc Borrega for helpful discussions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Forest Product Technology, School of Chemical Technology, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16300, Vuorimiehentie 1, 00076, Espoo, Finland

    Marina Alekhina, Agnes M. Stepan & Herbert Sixta

  2. Research Division of Biopolymers, Fraunhofer IAP, Geiselbergstraße 69, 14476, Potsdam-Golm, Germany

    Jens Erdmann & Andreas Ebert

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  1. Marina Alekhina
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Correspondence to Herbert Sixta.

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Alekhina, M., Erdmann, J., Ebert, A. et al. Physico-chemical properties of fractionated softwood kraft lignin and its potential use as a bio-based component in blends with polyethylene. J Mater Sci 50, 6395–6406 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-015-9192-9

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