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Levulinic acid: A novel sustainable solvent for lignin dissolution
Elodie Melro1, Alexandra Filipe2, Artur J M Valente1
1University of Coimbra, CQC, Department of Chemistry, Rua Larga, 3004-535 Coimbra, Portugal.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
|August 23, 2020
Summary
This study shows that levulinic acid, a green solvent, effectively dissolves kraft lignin, achieving high solubility even when diluted with water. Regenerated lignin shows minor structural changes but increased carbonyl groups.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Green Chemistry
- Polymer Chemistry
Background:
- Lignin is a renewable resource abundant in plant biomass.
- Efficiently dissolving lignin is crucial for its large-scale application in biomaterials.
- Sustainable and environmentally friendly solvents are needed for lignin processing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the dissolution of kraft lignin using levulinic acid, a green solvent.
- To compare the efficiency of levulinic acid with other carboxylic acids and sulfuric acid.
- To analyze the properties of regenerated lignin after dissolution and recovery.
Main Methods:
- Dissolution of kraft lignin in levulinic acid at room temperature.
- Solubility testing with varying concentrations of levulinic acid and water.
- Estimation of Kamlet-Taft π* parameters for different acidic solvents.
- Regeneration of dissolved lignin and characterization of its thermal stability and morphology.
Main Results:
- Levulinic acid demonstrated high kraft lignin solubility (40 wt%) at room temperature.
- Solubility remained high even with up to 40 wt% water content in levulinic acid.
- Kamlet-Taft π* parameter correlated well with lignin solubility performance.
- Regenerated lignin showed minor differences in thermal stability and morphology compared to native lignin.
- An increase in carbonyl groups was observed in the regenerated lignin.
Conclusions:
- Levulinic acid is a highly effective and versatile green solvent for kraft lignin dissolution.
- The solvent properties, particularly the Kamlet-Taft π* parameter, influence lignin solubility.
- Regeneration of lignin from levulinic acid results in material with slightly altered properties, including increased carbonyl content.
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