Sebastian Sandner and Marlene Kienberger
High quality lignin from the organosolv processes has the potential to replace petrol derived phenolics in various applications. However, the fact that lignin’s properties are highly dependent on factors such as the extraction conditions and the plant of origin complicates its utilization. In this work, we evaluate the influence of extraction conditions and plant of origin on lignin’s properties, such as molar mass and hydroxy group content based on the available literature. We found linear relationships between the extraction severity, expressed as a combined severity factor (CSF), and key lignin properties such as lignin’s molar mass and hydroxy content for autocatalyzed and acid catalyzed hardwood ethanol organosolv lignin. We extended these findings to systems of other biomass and solvents (e.g., organic acids and methanol) and consistently found a negative correlation between the CSF and molar mass and aliphatic hydroxy groups. The number of phenolic hydroxy groups increased proportionally to CSF. Finally, we report the influence of solvent and biomass on lignin’s properties. This work will help predict lignin’s properties based on its extraction conditions and therefore help produce lignin that matches its target application.
Industrial Crops and Products
DOI: 10.1016/j.indcrop.2025.121247