Ultraviolet (UV) assisted fabrication and characterization of lignin containing cellulose nanofibrils (LCNFs) from wood residues

Afroza Akter Liza; Shihao Wang; Yanchen Zhu; Hao Wu; Lukuan Guo; Yungeng Qi; Fengshan Zhang; Junlong Song; Hao Ren; Jiaqi Guo

doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.137973

Ultraviolet (UV) assisted fabrication and characterization of lignin containing cellulose nanofibrils (LCNFs) from wood residues

Int J Biol Macromol. 2024 Nov 22:137973. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.137973. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Afroza Akter Liza¹, Shihao Wang², Yanchen Zhu³, Hao Wu³, Lukuan Guo², Yungeng Qi⁴, Fengshan Zhang⁵, Junlong Song², Hao Ren³, Jiaqi Guo⁶

Affiliations

¹ Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources and International Innovation Center for Forest Chemicals and Materials, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China; Jiangsu Provincial Key Lab of Sustainable Pulp and Paper Technology and Biomass Materials and College of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210037, China.
² Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources and International Innovation Center for Forest Chemicals and Materials, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China.
³ Jiangsu Provincial Key Lab of Sustainable Pulp and Paper Technology and Biomass Materials and College of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210037, China.
⁴ Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources and International Innovation Center for Forest Chemicals and Materials, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China; Liaoning Key Lab of Lignocellulose Chemistry and Bio Materials, Liaoning Collaborative Innovation Center for Lignocellulosic Biorefinery, College of Light Industry and Chemical Engineering, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian 116034, China.
⁵ Shandong Huatai Paper Co., Ltd., Shandong Yellow Triangle Biotechnology Industry Research Institute Co. LTD, Dongying 257000, China.
⁶ Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources and International Innovation Center for Forest Chemicals and Materials, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China; Jiangsu Provincial Key Lab of Sustainable Pulp and Paper Technology and Biomass Materials and College of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210037, China. Electronic address: jiaqi.guo@njfu.edu.cn.

PMID: 39581419
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.137973

Abstract

This study aimed to explore the synergistic mechanism of lignin chromophore modifications via UV treatment and to analyze the effects of mechanical treatments on LCNF properties for future uses. The procedure involved two steps: first, lignin's chromophore modification via UV illumination, and then the ball milling process was proceeded for 1 h, followed by high-intensity ultrasonic for 15-135 min. Characterization included preserved lignin content percentage, FTIR, UV-vis NMR, and color analysis for UV-modified samples, and to access the influence of mechanical treatment on LCNF samples further yield, zeta potential analysis, XRD, thermogravimetric analysis, atomic force microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy were performed. LCNFs S-120 demonstrated a zeta potential of -21.7 mV, indicating enhanced stability compared to the S-135 sample (-10.95 mV). The S-120 sample also showed the highest yield (74.02 %) and TGA at 391 °C. In XRD analysis, the S-120 sample demonstrated the highest CrI 64.3 %, than the S-15 sample (48.2 %). Preserved lignin in the LCNFs led to a slight reduction in crystallinity across all samples but improved thermal stability for all the prepared LCNFs samples. The UV and ultrasonication improved the homogeneity and durability of the LCNF samples, enabling a process that may be used to industries.

Keywords: High yield; Lignin-containing cellulose nanofiber; Thermal stability; UV illumination; Wood residues.