Lignin Refinery Using Organosolv Process for Nanoporous Carbon Synthesis

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Chemical Engineering
• Biomass Conversion

Background:

• Porous carbon is vital for adsorbents, catalysts, and energy storage.
• Lignin, a biomass component, is a potential precursor for porous carbon synthesis.
• Developing sustainable methods for producing porous carbon from abundant biomass is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize porous carbon derived from various biomass lignins.
• To investigate the influence of organosolv processing and carbonization temperature on porous carbon properties.
• To determine the optimal conditions for producing high-surface-area porous carbon from lignin.

Main Methods:

• Lignin extraction from mangosteen peel, corncob, and coconut shell using ethanol-based organosolv process.
• Characterization of extracted lignin using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and viscosimetry.
• Pyrolysis of lignin at 600°C and 850°C to produce porous carbon, followed by surface area analysis.

Main Results:

• Organosolv process with high temperatures effectively extracted lignin, confirmed by FTIR.
• Carbonization at 850°C produced porous carbon with a maximum specific surface area of 974 m²/g.
• Increased carbonization temperature enhanced surface area but reduced carbon yield.

Conclusions:

• Biomass-derived lignin is a viable precursor for synthesizing porous carbon.
• Optimizing carbonization temperature is key to balancing high surface area and yield.
• The resulting porous carbon shows promise for adsorption and energy storage applications.