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Thermal and Physiochemical Characterization of Lignin Extracted from Wheat Straw by Organosolv Process

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Abstract

The purified lignin extracted from wheat straw by organosolv process was characterized for the existence of lignin subunits, functional groups and physical and thermal behaviours. Presence of carboxyl, hydroxyl, methoxyl groups and C–C, C–O, C=O linkages were conducted by Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR). By 1H-NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy) presence of aromatic protons, phenolic hydroxyls, carboxylic acids, and aldehydes were established. Moreover, 13C-NMR spectra have disclosed the presence of condensed and uncondensed aliphatic and aromatic aryls and ethers. The existence of syringyl and guaiacyl units also were confirmed with both FTIR and NMR spectroscopies. Furthermore, the results from Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) showed the weight of extracted lignin is changed in temperatures between 180 and 670 °C by devolatization, formation and condensation of different chemicals. Also, the Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) graph displayed a glass transition temperature of 105 °C for extracted lignin. As a result, the extracted lignin with high purity can be a suitable candidate for carrying out value-added products.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the financial support from the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and Ontario Research Fund (ORF). We also thank Dr. Krishan Goel, who helped us a lot in this project.

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  1. Center for Biocomposites and Biomaterials Processing, Faculty of Forestry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Nasim Ramezani & Mohini Sain

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  1. Nasim Ramezani
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Correspondence to Nasim Ramezani.

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Ramezani, N., Sain, M. Thermal and Physiochemical Characterization of Lignin Extracted from Wheat Straw by Organosolv Process. J Polym Environ 26, 3109–3116 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-018-1199-2

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