CHALLENGES IN INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS OF TECHNICAL LIGNINS

By Alexey Vishtal, Andrzej Kraslawski. 2011

645 citations recorded by the source corpus.

The primary aim of modern biorefineries is the efficient conversion of lignocellulosic materials into valuable products. Sugars and oils can be converted into valuable chemicals, but processing of lignin is still a challenge. A vast amount of lignin is incinerated to produce process steam and energy, and only a very small part is used for the production of value-added products. Technical lignins are isolated as by-streams in lignocellulosic refineries, e.g., as kraft, soda, organosolv, and hydrolysis lignins, as well as lignosulphonates. They have a modified structure and contain impurities that are dependent on the processing method. The structure and the composition of technical lignins restrict their subsequent applications. This paper reviews limiting factors in utilization of technical lignins. Four major classes of problems are identified, and approaches to overcoming these problems are suggested.

Subfields: Biomedical Engineering

View Paper: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/67522440df31b914fe5ba5609da0e4febabf86c5

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In Biomedical Engineering

1. R. Sun
2. J. Wen
3. Bai-Liang Xue
4. Shaolong Sun
5. Jost Ruwoldt

Citations in the corpus

• Quantitative structural characterization of the lignins from the stem and pith of bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens) (2013, background): “Lignin, in general, has a wide range of utilization, for example, as phenol substitute in phenol-formaldehyde resins for board manufacture and polymer blends, just to mention a few (Vishtal and Kraslawski 2011 ).”
• Solvent fractionation of softwood and hardwood kraft lignins for more efficient uses: Compositional, structural, thermal, antioxidant and adsorption properties (2019, background): “Such heterogeneity is the main factor limiting the use of technical lignins in value-added applications (Vishtal and Kraslawski, 2011).”
• A Critical Review of the Physicochemical Properties of Lignosulfonates: Chemical Structure and Behavior in Aqueous Solution, at Surfaces and Interfaces (2020, background): “Stearic screening of functional groups in high-molecular-weight lignosulfonates is an effect, which has been used to explain phenomena such as a lower effect on zeta potential by shielding of sulfonic acid groups [80] or a lower reactivity by screening phenolic hydroxyl groups [34].”