Purification and characterization of kraft lignin

To upgrade the utilization of kraft lignin (KL) for high-performance lignin-based materials (e.g., carbon fiber), the purity, molecular mass distribution (MMD), and thermal properties need to be improved and adjusted to target values. Therefore, different methods, such as ultrasonic extraction (UE), solvent extraction, dialysis, and hot water treatment (HWT), were applied for the purification of KL. The chemical and thermal properties of purified lignin have been characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance, Fourier transform infrared, gel permeation chromatography, elemental analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetric analysis. The lignin fractions obtained by UE with ethanol/acetone (E/A) mixture (9:1) revealed a very narrow MMD and were nearly free of inorganic compounds and carbohydrates. Further, the E/A-extracted lignin showed a lower glass transition temperature (T_g) and a clearly detectable melting temperature (T_m). Dialysis followed by HWT at 220°C is an efficient method for the removal of inorganics and carbohydrates; however, lignin was partly forming condensed structures during the treatment.