Abstract
The self-assembly of lignin (molecular and supramolecular) is driven mainly by non-covalent interactions, and the nature of the solvents and antisolvents directly affect the driving forces. The lignin particle is usually formed by noncovalently bonded cylindrical subunits. In this paper, we report a simple method which can be used to synthesize lignin nanoparticles by using spray freezing. The method is based on two properties of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) that are excellent lignin solubility and a high melting point. Based on these two properties, kraft lignin solution in DMSO was sprayed onto liquid nitrogen-cooled copper plates using a handheld spray. The high melting point of DMSO caused immediate freezing and particle formation. The obtained particles were characterized for their size and morphology using dynamic light scattering (DLS), as well as scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Nano-range polydispersed particles were obtained by spraying 0.05% of lignin onto DMSO. This method can avoid lignin–solvent–antisolvent interactions, and can also be used to study lignin–lignin (subunits) and lignin–DMSO interactions.
Highlights
Nanomaterials and nanotechnology help to create new strategies for biomass valorization, as well as its applications [1,2,3,4,5]
Lignin nanoparticles can play an important role in high-value utilization of technical lignin; several methods have been proposed for lignin nanoparticle synthesis [7,8,9,10]
Several reviews on lignin nanoparticle synthesis and its underlying processes have already addressed the issue in detail [7,11,13]
Summary
Nanomaterials and nanotechnology help to create new strategies for biomass valorization, as well as its applications [1,2,3,4,5]. Various approaches have been developed to try and valorize technical lignin (obtained as a byproduct of different industrial pulping processes), and even lignin centric biorefineries have been suggested [6]. The structure of lignin further varies with the source, extraction process, and extent of condensation. Most of the methods involve the self-assembly of lignin, which, in turn, is affected by the nature or type of the solvent, type of noncovalent interaction, the structure of technical lignin, the extent of condensation, and by solvent–lignin–antisolvent interactions [11,12]. Different approaches for the synthesis of lignin nanoparticles provide an excellent platform for the study of inter- and intramolecular interactions of technical lignins, their solution structure, and their solvent–solute interactions [13,14]. Several reviews on lignin nanoparticle synthesis and its underlying processes have already addressed the issue in detail [7,11,13]
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