Sulfite Pulp Research Articles

Sodium lignosulfonate improves shoot growth of Oryza sativa via enhancement of photosynthetic activity and reduced accumulation of reactive oxygen species

Lignosulfonate (LS) is a by-product obtained during sulfite pulping process and is commonly used as a growth enhancer in plant growth. However, the underlying growth promoting mechanism of LS on shoot growth remains largely unknown. Hence, this study was undertaken to determine the potential application of eco-friendly ion-chelated LS complex [sodium LS (NaLS) and calcium LS (CaLS)] to enhance recalcitrant indica rice MR 219 shoot growth and to elucidate its underlying growth promoting mechanisms. In this study, the shoot apex of MR 219 rice was grown on Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with different ion chelated LS complex (NaLS and CaLS) at 100, 200, 300 and 400 mg/L The NaLS was shown to be a better shoot growth enhancer as compared to CaLS, with optimum concentration of 300 mg/L. Subsequent comparative proteomic analysis revealed an increase of photosynthesis-related proteins [photosystem II (PSII) CP43 reaction center protein, photosystem I (PSI) iron-sulfur center, PSII CP47 reaction center protein, PSII protein D1], ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco), carbohydrate metabolism-related proteins (glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase 3, fructose-bisphosphate aldolase) and stress regulator proteins (peptide methionine sulfoxide reductase A4, delta-1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthase 1) abundance in NaLS-treated rice as compared to the control (MSO). Consistent with proteins detected, a significant increase in biochemical analyses involved in photosynthetic activities, carbohydrate metabolism and protein biosynthesis such as total chlorophyll, rubisco activity, total sugar and total protein contents were observed in NaLS-treated rice. This implies that NaLS plays a role in empowering photosynthesis activities that led to plant growth enhancement. In addition, the increased in abundance of stress regulator proteins were consistent with low levels of peroxidase activity, malondialdehyde content and phenylalanine ammonia lyase activity observed in NaLS-treated rice. These results suggest that NaLS plays a role in modulating cellular homeostasis to provide a conducive cellular environment for plant growth. Taken together, NaLS improved shoot growth of recalcitrant MR 219 rice by upregulation of photosynthetic activities and reduction of ROS accumulation leading to better plant growth.

Extraction and Characterization of Hemicelluloses from a Softwood Acid Sulfite Pulp.

Hemicelluloses were extracted from a softwood acid sulfite pulp in a three-step procedure. Further delignification step resulted in a holocellulose pulp containing only 1.7 wt.% of the lignin left. Cold caustic extraction (CCE) with 18 wt.% NaOH at 60 °C for 1 h was performed to solubilize hemicelluloses of the holocellulose. An unbleached cellulose pulp was then obtained 97% pure, which indicates that 89% of the hemicelluloses were removed. After purification, extraction yields between 1.1 wt.% and 9.5 wt.% were obtained from the delignified pulp and the hemicelluloses’ chemical compositions and structures were investigated by 1H, 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) and two-dimensional NMR by correlation spectroscopy (2D-COSY) and proton-detected heteronuclear single-quantum correlation (2D-HSQC), high-performance anion-exchange chromatography coupled with a pulsed amperometry detector (HPAEC-PAD), size-exclusion chromatography coupled with a refractive index detector (SEC-RI) and thermogravimetric analyses (TGA). Hemicelluloses were obtained with a purity of 96%, with short cellulosic chains as the only residue. Sulfite pulping modified the hemicelluloses’ structure, and it was found that two types of hemicelluloses were isolated, glucomannans, predominant at 67%, and methylglucuronoxylans. Finally, alkali-soluble hemicelluloses displayed relatively narrow size distributions and low molar masses, Mw varying between 18,900 and 30,000 g/mol after acid sulfite pulping.

Evaluation of eco-friendly cellulose and lignocellulose nanofibers from rice straw using Multiple Quality Index

Huge amounts of rice straw are left every year in different areas of the world; these residues still cause environmental problems due to un-safe practices such as burning. Isolation of nanomaterials such as cellulose nanofibers represents an effective way for utilization of rice straw in advanced products. The current work aimed at evaluating the properties of rice straw cellulose nanofibers isolated from bleached and high-lignin unbleached pulps using a multi-criterion quality index, which allows a benchmarking analysis between different sources, processes and features. Rice straw was subjected to neutral sulfite pulping process to obtain the high-lignin unbleached pulp while the bleached pulp was obtained by bleaching the produced pulp with NaClO2/acetic acid mixture. Using mechanical pretreatment (Valley beater), and ultrafine friction grinder both bleached and unbleached pulps were used to obtain cellulose nanofibers with and without lignin (L-CNF and CNF, respectively). Nanopaper sheets were prepared from both types of nanofibers and characterized using tensile tests, optical microscopy, atomic force microscopy, electron scanning microscopy, water contact angle and surface energy. Cellulose nanofibers generated from rice straw were scored using a multi-criterion quality index depending on characterization using eight tests (nanosized and macro size fraction, turbidity, Young's modulus, porosity, transmittance, tear resistance, and homogeneity).

Получение лиственной целлюлозы высокого выхода бисульфитным способом

The article presents the results of the development of a technological mode for obtaining bisulfite hardwood pulp of high yield on a magnesium base for the production of various types of containerboard. The reliable and effective chemical and heat recovery technology implemented in the bisulfite method allows to use it in independent sulfite process. The effect of the duration of stay at the final temperature on the pulp yield and kappa number was studied when developing the technological mode of cooking. It was found that the increase in the duration of stay at the final temperature of 160 °C more than 40 min leads to violations of the selectivity of the cooking process. Increasing the duration of stay at the final temperature up to 70 min is accompanied by a decrease in pulp yield by 6 % at a constant value of the kappa number of the semi-finished product. Technological cooking mode: hydromodule 5, SO2 consumption 15.0 %, cooking solution pH 4.3–4.5, impregnation time at 120 °C – 35 min, cooking duration at 160 °C – 40 min. The mode allows to get a semi-finished product with a high yield of 60–65 % with a kappa number of 58–60 units without a hot grinding stage. An assessment of the mechanical strength characteristics of the laboratory samples of bisulfite pulp was carried out in accordance with the standards of the Russian Federation. The obtained values of bursting strength, resistance to flat compression, breaking strength, and breaking stress were comparable with the values of the industrial sample of hardwood neutral sulfite semi-chemical pulp with a semi-finished product yield of 75–78 %. It is shown that the presence of bark in the technological chips in the amount of 7.5 % is accompanied by a decrease in the yield of bisulfite hardwood pulp by 4.5 % and mechanical strength by 7.8 %. For citation: Koroleva T.A., Milovidova L.A., Dryakhlitsyn A.A. Production of High-Yield Hardwood Pulp by Bisulfite Cooking. Lesnoy Zhurnal [Russian Forestry Journal], 2021, no. 3, pp. 161–169. DOI: 10.37482/0536-1036-2021-3-161-169

Dissolving pulp production: Cellulases and xylanases for the enhancement of cellulose accessibility and reactivity

AbstractDissolving pulps are high-grade cellulose pulps that have minimum amount of non-cellulosic impurities. Dissolving pulps are the basic source for the manufacturing of several cellulosic products such as viscose, lyocell, cellulose acetates, cellulose nitrates, carboxymethyl-cellulose, etc. Dissolving pulps are mainly manufactured by pre-hydrolysis kraft and acid sulphite pulping. A high reactivity of dissolving pulps is desirable for its eco-friendly utilization for several purposes. Several approaches including mechanical, chemical, ultrasonic, and enzymatic treatments have been employed for the improvement of pulp reactivity. This review mainly focussed on pulp reactivity improvement through enzymatic approaches. Cellulases and xylanase have been proved effective for the improvement of pulp reactivity of dissolving pulp from different sources. The different combinations of cellulase, xylanase, and mechanical refining have been tested and found more effective rather than the single one.

QUICK NON-DESTRUCTIVE ANALYSIS OF CONDENSED LIGNIN BY FTIR. PART 2. PULP SAMPLES FROM ACID SULFITE COOKING

"In our previous work, we demonstrated how lignin condensation and precipitation taking place in kraft pulping can be detected and even quantified by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Because lignin reactions in acid sulfite pulping are very different from those occurring during kraft cooking, a new analysis method is proposed to rapidly analyze the condensed lignin in acid sulfite pulp. This kind of analysis is useful for sulfite pulp mills to detect the elevated risk of black cook. This paper presents and discusses the novel method using FTIR spectroscopy to rapidly analyze lignin condensation in softwood pulp samples from acid sulfite processes. Several softwood pulp samples from acid sulfite pulping at varying levels of condensation were included in this research. According to the results, FTIR spectroscopy allows indirect quantification of lignin condensation in a difficult matrix of wood constituents, such as in incompletely delignified acid sulfite pulp."

Fate of Lipophilic Wood Extractives in Oxygen-Based Cellulose Bleaching

The impact of totally chlorine-free (TCF) bleaching chemicals on the composition and behavior of detrimental lipophilic wood extractives in a mixed hardwood sulfite pulp was studied to determine their potential for pitch control without the need for additional reagents. Toward this end, the acetone extracts of pulp were analyzed with commonly used gas chromatography (GC) and more sophisticated ultraperformance convergence chromatography (UPC2). During EO(P)–Z–P bleaching, the highest decrease in the lipophilic extractive content was achieved after ozone bleaching (Z), with a 38% reduction of GC-FID/MS-detectable resins. Oxygen-reinforced alkaline extraction EO(P) and peroxide bleaching (P) were less effective in terms of resin quality and quantity (−30 and −27%, respectively). Analyzing the acetone extracts after alkaline hydrolysis revealed a different pattern: EO(P) with −44%, P with −20%, and Z with only −8% less lipophilic extractives. A series of oxidized compounds, such as acyl chain-oxidized sterol esters and acylglycerols, and acidic secosterol analogues, were detected for the first time with UPC2-ESI-QToF-MS after ozone bleaching. These compounds lead to an underestimation of the GC-detectable resin content and may be involved in the formation of deposits during lignocellulosic processing. Reaction pathways for lipophilic extractives during ozone bleaching were established.

Comprehensive Analysis of Foulants in an Ultrafiltration Membrane Used for the Treatment of Bleach Plant Effluent in a Sulfite Pulp Mill.

Fouling is a major obstacle in the introduction of membrane processes in new applications in the pulping industry. Due to the complex nature of the feed solutions, complementary analysis methods are usually needed to identify the substances involved. Four different methods were used for the comprehensive analysis of a membrane removed from an ultrafiltration plant treating alkaline bleach plant effluent in a sulfite pulp mill to identify the substances causing fouling. Magnesium was detected both on the membrane surface and in the nonwoven membrane backing and a small amount of polysaccharides was detected after acid hydrolysis of the fouled membrane. This study provides information on foulants, which can be used to improve processing conditions and cleaning protocols and thus the membrane performance in pulp mill separation processes. It also provides an overview of the usefulness of various analytical methods.

Rice straw paper sheets reinforced with bleached or unbleached nanofibers

Abstract Cellulose nanofibers isolated from unbleached pulp are characterized by different surface properties due to presence of lignin at their surface, in addition to lower cost than isolated from bleached pulp. In the current work, the effect of cellulose nanofibers isolated from unbleached neutral sulfite and bleached soda rice straw pulps (so called UBCNF and BCNF) on improving paper sheet properties of unbleached and bleached rice straw pulp (so called UBP and BP) was studied. The effect on mechanical properties (tensile strength, burst strength, and tearing resistance) and physical properties (porosity and water vapor permeability) was studied. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to assist in explaining the obtained results. The result showed that using BCNF and BP resulted in better improvement in mechanical properties and also more effective in reducing porosity of paper sheets than in case of using UBCNF and UBP. These results indicated stronger bonding between nanofibers and pulps’ fibers in case of using BCNF and BP (surfaces rich in cellulose hydroxyl groups) than in case of UBCNF and UBP (surfaces rich in lignin). Water vapor permeability of paper sheets made from unbleached or bleached pulps did not significantly affect by the addition the nanofibers.

A review of the traditional pulping methods and the recent improvements in the pulping processes

The demand for paper and pulp-derived products to fulfill consumer needs is increasing considerably globally. This work provides a critical overview of the various traditional pulping methods and describes the recent improvements in pulping processes. A comparison of different pulping techniques has shown that the mechanical pulping process produces high pulp yields per unit volume of wood of poor quality (low strength, bonding, fiber morphology, etc.) as compared to chemical pulping methods. The use of semi-chemical pulping is reported as an effective way of overcoming the disadvantages of the mechanical pulping process. Recent modifications of the pulping processes that have happened in the last decade have been discussed and shown to be driven by the desire to save energy and reduce chemical requirements while maximizing pulp yields and quality. With the emergence of bio-based nanotechnology, post-pretreatment of Kraft and sulfite pulps for making nanocellulose and lignin-containing nanocellulose with improved fiber characteristics of fiber size, crystallinity, chemical composition, and fiber surface functionality has been discussed. Furthermore, challenges and prospects of the improvements in pulping processes are highlighted.

Cellulose fiber enzymatic modification to improve the softness, strength, and absorption properties of tissue papers

Effects of enzymatic modification were evaluated in bleached Eucalyptus kraft and sulfite cellulosic pulps, separately, to improve key tissue paper properties and design new Eucalyptus fiber applications. Different cellulase dosages (0.01 mg and 0.1 mg of enzyme/g of pulp) and reaction times (30 min and 60 min) were used to modify the fibers and replace the traditional mechanical based refining or beating process. The results showed that for enzymatic modified kraft and sulfite pulps, the softness properties were improved by 1 and 2 units, respectively, for each unit of decreased strength properties. To achieve a balance between the tissue properties, the different fiber pulp furnishes that contained 80% of the enzymatically treated kraft pulp and 20% of the sulfite pulp with and without enzymatic treatment, were studied. Overall, the structures made with these mixtures presented softness properties in the commercial range (57.8 to 74.4), improved absorption properties (107 mm to 120 mm of capillary rise), and good strength properties (13.0 to 17.7 N.m/g). This study was conducted in order to adjust the fiber furnishes according to industrial tissue standards, using one Eucalyptus fiber type providing strength and another providing softness.

A Critical Review of the Physicochemical Properties of Lignosulfonates: Chemical Structure and Behavior in Aqueous Solution, at Surfaces and Interfaces

Lignosulfonates are bio-based surfactants and specialty chemicals, which are generated by breaking the near-infinite lignin network during sulfite pulping of wood. Due to their amphiphilic nature, lignosulfonates are used in manifold applications such as plasticizer, dispersant, and stabilizer formulations. Function and performance are determined by their behavior in aqueous solution and at surfaces and interfaces, which is in turn imposed by the chemical make-up. This review hence summarizes the efforts made into delineating the physicochemical properties of lignosulfonates, while also relating to their composition and structure. Lignosulfonates are randomly branched polyelectrolytes with abundant sulfonate and carboxylic acid groups to ensure water-solubility. In aqueous solution, their conformation, colloidal state, and adsorption at surfaces or interfaces can be affected by a range of parameters, such as pH, concentration of other electrolytes, temperature, and the presence of organic solvents. These parameters may also affect the adsorption behavior, which reportedly follows Langmuir isotherm and pseudo second-order kinetics. The relative hydrophobicity, as determined by hydrophobic interaction chromatography, is an indicator that can help to relate composition and behavior of lignosulfonates. More hydrophobic materials have been found to exhibit a lower charge density. This may improve dispersion stabilization, but it can also be disadvantageous if an electrokinetic charge needs to be introduced at solid surfaces or if precipitation due to salting out is an issue. In addition, the monolignol composition, molecular weight distribution, and chemical modification may affect the physicochemical behavior of lignosulfonates. In conclusion, the properties of lignosulfonates can be tailored by controlling aspects such as the production parameters, fractionation, and by subsequent modification. Recent developments have spawned a magnitude of products and technologies, which is also reflected in the wide variety of possible application areas.

Effect of Low-Molecular-Weight Alcohols on Emulsion Stabilization with Lignosulfonates.

Lignosulfonates are biobased surfactants and specialty chemicals, which are described as water-soluble polyelectrolyte macromolecules that are generated during the sulfite pulping of lignocellulose biomass. Due to their amphiphilic nature, lignosulfonates have made their way into various applications, such as plasticizers, dispersants, and suspension or emulsion stabilizer. The stabilization efficiency for oil-in-water emulsions is affected, among other aspects, by the presence of alcohols. Low-molecular-weight alcohols can improve the performance of lignosulfonates; however, the effects of such additive have not yet been fully explored. In this article, we hence studied emulsion stability in dependence of alcohol concentration and other parameters, such as salinity. One or two regions of improved stability were found, which occurred at approximately 0.001–0.01 M alcohol in water, and in some cases additionally at 1–3 M. The four lignosulfonate samples responded distinctly to the alcohol additives. Little difference was found for varying lignosulfonate concentration or the alcohol type, that is, methanol, ethanol, or 2-propanol. Adding ethanol at high salinity (720 mM NaCl) showed a destabilizing effect. A decrease in interfacial tension was noted when adding 1 M ethanol or more, but the surface pressure of lignosulfonates decreased progressively at 0.3 M ethanol and above. These effects are counteracting, which could explain why increasing alcohol concentration would either enhance or impair stability. Overall, emulsion stability was affected by concentration effects and not cosurfactant action of the alcohols. Composition changes can influence the dielectric properties of the bulk solvent, further affecting the anionic functional groups, which was evidenced by alcohol addition affecting the lignosulfonates with lower hydrophobicity more strongly and by ethanol exhibiting the destabilizing effect at high salinity. In conclusion, adding low-molecular-weight alcohols may hence influence the behavior of lignosulfonates and render them more accessible for interactions with hydrophobic interfaces.

Methane potentials and organic matter characterization of wood fibres from pulp and paper mills: The influence of raw material, pulping process and bleaching technique

During the process of pulp- and papermaking, large volumes of fibre-rich primary sludge are generated. Anaerobic digestion of primary sludge offers a substantial potential for methane production as an alternative approach to the inefficient energy recoveries by commonly used incineration techniques. However, a systematic study of the importance of upstream process techniques for the methane potential of pulp fibres is lacking. Therefore, biochemical methane potentials were determined at mesophilic conditions for 20 types of fibres processed by a variety of pulping and bleaching techniques and from different raw materials. This included fibres from kraft, sulphite, semi-chemical, chemical thermo-mechanical (CTMP) and thermo-mechanical pulping plants and milled raw wood. The pulping technique was clearly important for the methane potential, with the highest potential achieved for kraft and sulphite fibres (390–400 Nml CH4 g VS−1). For raw wood and CTMP, hardwood fibres gave substantially more methane than the corresponding softwood fibres (240 compared to 50 Nml CH4 g VS−1 and 300 compared to 160 Nml CH4 g VS−1, respectively). Nuclear magnetic resonance characterization of the organic content demonstrated that the relative lignin content of the fibres was an important factor for methane production, and that an observed positive effect of bleaching on the methane potential of softwood CTMP fibres was likely related to a higher degree of deacetylation and improved accessibility of the hemicellulose. In conclusion, fibres from kraft and sulphite pulping are promising substrates for methane production irrespective of raw material or bleaching, as well as fibres from CTMP pulping of hardwood.

Preparation of water-soluble cellulose derivatives using TEMPO radical-mediated oxidation at extended reaction time

Four types of cellulosic samples, including cotton linters, microcrystalline, never-dried sulfite pulp, and viscose, were tested as potential sources to prepare cellulose-based derivatives, able to be used in homogeneous systems. In this way, by employing water as a solvent, can surpass one of the major drawbacks of native cellulose, its recalcitrance towards common solvents. The chosen derivatization procedure implies the chemical oxidation using 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPO) radical, sodium hypochlorite, and sodium bromide. Following this treatment, each cellulose sample was processed in such a way as to maximize the content of water-soluble fractions. Therefore, for each cellulose type (except viscose), we could isolate three oxidized samples All of these samples were thoroughly characterized using spectral analyses (FT-IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR), content of negatively charged groups, and degree of polymerization. The morphology of the oxidized products has been evaluated by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and crystallinity was assessed by using X-ray diffraction (XRD). The thermal analyses for the pure and oxidized cellulose samples were also performed. The limit of the solubility in water for the oxidized fractions was checked by using a low-voltage electron microscopy (LVEM).

Succinic acid production from pulp and paper industry waste: A transcriptomic approach

The fermentative production of biobased chemicals and polymers using crude lignocellulose hydrolysates is challenging due to the presence of various inhibitory compounds and multiple sugars. This study evaluates the metabolic response of Actinobacillus succinogenes for the production of succinic acid using spent sulphite liquor (SSL) as feedstock derived from industrial acidic sulphite pulping of Eucalyptus globulus hardwood. A transcriptomic approach led to significant insights on gene regulation of the major metabolic pathways (glycolysis, pentose phosphate pathway, TCA cycle, pyruvate metabolism and oxidative phosphorylation) in batch cultures carried out on SSL and compared with glucose and xylose. Significantly overexpressed genes in SSL compared to glucose and xylose were fructose biphosphate aldolase (> 1.18-fold change) in the catabolism, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (> 1.59-fold change) and malate dehydrogenase (> 1.49-fold change) in the TCA cycle, citrate lyase (> 1.7-fold change), dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (> 0.88-fold change), pyruvate dehydrogenase E2 (> 1.63-fold change) and pyruvate formate lyase (> 0.61-fold change), involved in acetyl-CoA pathways. Finally, C4 tricarboxylic transporters were overexpressed (DCU (> 1.61-fold change) and 0079 (> 4.19-fold change). SSL was responsible for the upregulation of genes involved in the TCA cycle and oxidative phosphorylation, while xylose showed similar results with SSL in the oxidative phosphorylation.

Effects of residual lignin and cellulose swelling on the rate of enzymatic saccharification of softwood and hardwood acid sulfite pulps

We estimated the effect of residual lignin and pulp swelling on the rate of enzymatic saccharification to increase production of ethanol from acid sulfite pulp (SP) by means of enzymatic treatment. The resolution ratio of hardwood (Acacia mearnsii) SP after the enzymatic treatment was lower compared to softwood (Larix leptolepis) SP even though lignin content of hardwood SP was lower. The pyrolysis–gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) analysis revealed that the residual lignin in hardwood SP could more easily adsorb enzyme compared to softwood SP, and the residual lignin in hardwood SP should interfere with the binding of the enzyme to cellulose. The beating treatment of pulp increased the swelling of pulp. The enzymatic saccharification rate was increased by the beating treatment. On the other hand, the delignification treatment was more effective than the beating treatment at enhancing enzymatic saccharification of both hardwood and softwood SPs. We found that the delignification process should be considered a high-priority technique for enhancing enzymatic saccharification of SP.

Nanocellulose from fractionated sulfite wood pulp

Fine fibre fractions in wood pulp may contribute to advantageous paper properties, but in some instances their removal from pulp may be beneficial to the production process of certain paper grades. In order to study the suitability of fine fibre fractions for the production of nanocellulose as an alternative use option, sulfite pulp was fractionated and homogenised, and cellulose nanopapers were produced. Characterisation revealed that fine fibre fractions were more easily homogenised than long fibres. Aqueous suspensions of nanocellulose produced from fines showed remarkably reduced viscosity compared to nanocellulose derived from long fibres. Nanopapers produced from all nanocellulose variants showed roughly similar mechanical performance. Only nanopaper produced from primary fines-derived nanocellulose deviated in that it showed a comparably high modulus of elasticity at a low strain at failure. Overall, fine fibre fractions separated from wood pulp were found to be highly suitable for nanocellulose production.

Flexible Nanocellulose/Lignosulfonates Ion-Conducting Separators for Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells.

The utilization of biobased materials for the fabrication of naturally derived ion-exchange membranes is breezing a path to sustainable separators for polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs). In this investigation, bacterial nanocellulose (BNC, a bacterial polysaccharide) and lignosulfonates (LS, a by-product of the sulfite pulping process), were blended by diffusion of an aqueous solution of the lignin derivative and of the natural-based cross-linker tannic acid into the wet BNC nanofibrous three-dimensional structure, to produce fully biobased ion-exchange membranes. These freestanding separators exhibited good thermal-oxidative stability of up to about 200 °C, in both inert and oxidative atmospheres (N2 and O2, respectively), high mechanical properties with a maximum Young’s modulus of around 8.2 GPa, as well as good moisture-uptake capacity with a maximum value of ca. 78% after 48 h for the membrane with the higher LS content. Moreover, the combination of the conducting LS with the mechanically robust BNC conveyed ionic conductivity to the membranes, namely a maximum of 23 mS cm−1 at 94 °C and 98% relative humidity (RH) (in-plane configuration), that increased with increasing RH. Hence, these robust water-mediated ion conductors represent an environmentally friendly alternative to the conventional ion-exchange membranes for application in PEFCs.

Evaluation of Prosopis juliflora as a potential feedstock for the production of sodium lignosulfonate from the spent liquor of a laboratory digester

Chopped stems of Prosopis juliflora, an invasive xerophyte, were digested in a laboratory digester following alkaline sulfite pulping process to generate spent liquor whereby lignin underwent sulfonation to produce sodium lignosulfonate (SLS). SLS was concentrated from the spent liquor by ultrafiltration. Raw wood was featured by high lignin (23.5%), low extractives (1.0%), low wax (0.41), and low ash (2.25%) content thus making it an ideal feedstock to produce lignosulfonates with appreciable physico-chemical property and relatively high mechanical strength. Attempts were made to provide basic information on SLS structure and structural changes that might occur during pulping of P. juliflora under the present experimental conditions. Spectral and X-ray diffraction studies on as-produced SLS revealed substantial depolymerization and structural modification of lignin during sulfite pulping. The derived SLS had higher crystallinity index than the feedstock wood. Effect of average size of raw wood chip and dose of sodium sulfite in the overall yield of pulp and SLS along with the kappa number of the pulp were also analyzed. Findings from this study would serve to cultivate a better understanding of the potential of P. juliflora as a feedstock, so far unexplored, to produce SLS − a value-added product with numerous commercial applications. The use of this particular plant species in paper and pulp industry could also be considered as an effective means of integrated agro management in rural areas.