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Nanolignin by Ultrasonication: Tuning the Process for Tailored Materials Characteristics
Eleonora Ruffini1, Emanuela Bellinetto1, Stefano Turri1
1Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering "Giulio Natta", Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, Milano 20133, Italy.
ACS Omega
|July 7, 2025
Summary
This study optimized ultrasonication to create uniform lignin nanoparticles (LNPs) without solvents. These LNPs enhance poly(vinyl alcohol) nanocomposite properties, demonstrating controlled nanoparticle production for advanced materials.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- Lignin, a renewable biopolymer, is abundant but underutilized.
- Developing solvent-free methods for lignin modification is crucial for sustainable materials.
- Nanoparticle production offers new avenues for lignin valorization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To optimize the ultrasonication process for producing lignin nanoparticles (LNPs).
- To establish relationships between operating variables and LNP characteristics.
- To demonstrate the application of optimized LNPs in nanocomposite materials.
Main Methods:
- Design-of-Experiments (DoE) methodology to study ultrasonication parameters (lignin concentration, time, amplitude).
- Characterization of lignin before and after ultrasonication (chemical, physical, morphological, thermal).
- Preparation and evaluation of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) nanocomposites with LNPs.
Main Results:
- Identified key parameters influencing LNP size, shape, and suspension.
- Achieved formation of exclusively spherical LNPs without solvents.
- Developed predictive models for LNP characteristics.
- Demonstrated improved PVA nanocomposite properties (chemical, thermal, mechanical) using tailored LNPs.
Conclusions:
- Ultrasonication is an effective solvent-free method for producing tunable lignin nanoparticles.
- Optimized LNPs enhance the performance of PVA-based nanocomposites.
- Predictive control over LNP characteristics is achievable through process parameter optimization.
