Eucalyptus globulus Kraft Pulp Residual Lignins. Part 1. Effects of Extraction Methods upon Lignin Structure

Abstract

Summary Residual lignins of Eucalyptus globulus kraft pulp were shown to be structurally different depending upon the type of extraction chosen. Enzymatic hydrolysis releases a residual lignin with a well preserved etherified structure but substantially contaminated by protein and carbohydrate moieties coming from the enzyme. Moreover, the extraction yield is poor and obviously it does not work as well as in the case of softwood kraft pulp. The residual lignin extracted by acid hydrolysis has less etherified units and more free phenolic functions than that of the enzymatic hydrolysis. It contains some unsaturated structures but no carbohydrate contaminants. Comparison with Milled Wood Lignin (MWL) treated under the acid hydrolysis conditions shows that ether splitting occurs during this extraction. The different residual lignin fractions were characterised by HPSEC, FT-IR, 13C NMR and sugar analysis.