Umeå universitets logga

Seven different lignin samples, three from Kraft extraction and four from organosolv extraction, were subjected to hydrothermal treatment at 260℃ for four hours to assess the impact of lignin type on the physicochemical properties of the hydrothermal material. The ¹³C Solid state NMR, XPS, FTIR and SEM analysis revealed that the different sources of lignin and the extraction conditions created variations in the degree of syringyl and guaiacyl subunits, inter-unit bonding arrangements, morphology and surface composition. Hydrothermal carbonization appeared to “normalize” the differences between each of the lignin samples, via breaking β-O-4 or α-O-4 linkages, removal of methoxy and syringyl subunits, and creation of C–C and 4-O-5 linkages to polymerization into large 100−200 μm amorphous carbon particles. Overall, this study indicates that the source and extraction type have minimal influence on the physicochemical structure and morphology of the final hydrothermal product.