Thermal Decomposition of Kraft Lignin under Gas Atmospheres of Argon, Hydrogen, and Carbon Dioxide

Green Flame-Retardant Blend Used to Improve the Antiflame Properties of Polypropylene

The flammability properties of polymers and polymeric composites play an important role in ensuring the safety of humans and the environment; moreover, flame-retardant materials ensure a greater number of applications. In the present study, we report the obtaining of polypropylene (PP) composites contain a mixture of two green flame retardants, lignin and clinoptilolite, by melt extrusion. These additives are abundantly found in nature. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), mechanical properties, scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), cone calorimetry, UL-94, and carbonized residues analysis were carried out. TGA analysis shows that PPGFR-10 and PPGFR-20 compounds presented better thermal stability with respect to PP without flame retardants. The conical calorimetric evaluation of the composites showed that PPGFR-10 and PPGFR-20 presented decreases in peak heat release rates (HRRs) of 9.75% and 11.88%, respectively. The flammability of the composites was evaluated with the UL-94 standard, and only the PPGFR-20 composite presented the V-0 and 5VB classification, which indicates good flame-retardant properties. Additives in the polymer matrix showed good dispersion with few agglomerates. The PPGFR-20 composite showed an FRI value of 1.15, higher percentage of carbonized residues, and UL-94 V-0 and 5VB rating, suggesting some kind of synergy between lignin and clinoptilolite, but only at high flame-retardant concentrations.

Tuning thermal and graphitization behaviors of lignin via complexation with transition metal ions for the synthesis of multilayer graphene-based materials

Thermal conversion of kraft lignin, an abundant renewable aromatic substrate, into advanced carbon materials including graphitic carbon and multilayer/turbostratic graphene has recently attracted great interest. Our innovative catalytic upgrading approach integrated with molecular cracking and welding (MCW) enables mass production of lignin-derived multilayer graphene-based materials. To understand the critical role of metal catalysts in the synthesis of multilayer graphene, this study was focused on investigating the effects of transition metals (i.e., molybdenum (Mo), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), and iron (Fe)) on thermal and graphitization behaviors of lignin. During the preparation of metal-lignin (M-lignin) complexes, Fenton-like reactions were observed with the formation of Fe- and Cu-lignin complexes, while Ni ions strongly interacted with oxygen-containing surface functional groups of lignin and Mo oxyanions weakly interacted with lignin through ionic bonding. Different chelation mechanisms of transition metal ions with lignin influenced the stabilization, graphitization, and MCW steps involved in thermal upgrading. The M-lignin complex behaviors in each of the three steps were characterized. It was found that multilayer graphene-based materials with nanoplatelets can be obtained from the Fe-lignin complex via MCW operation at 1000 °C under methane (CH4). Raman spectra indicated that Fe- and Ni-lignin complexes experienced a higher degree of graphitization than Cu- and Mo-lignin complexes during thermal treatment.

Unlocking the Power of Multicatalytic Synergistic Transformation: toward Environmentally Adaptable Organohydrogel

A sustainable and efficient multicatalytic chemical transformation approach is devised for the development of all-biobased environmentally adaptable polymers and gels with multifunctional properties. The catalytic system, utilizing Lignin aluminum nanoparticles (AlNPs)-aluminum ions (Al3+ ), synergistically combines multiple catalytic cycles to create robust, mechanically stable, and versatile organohydrogels. Single catalytic cycles alone fail to achieve desired results, highlighting the importance of cooperatively combining different cycles for successful outcomes. The transformation involves free radical crosslinking, reversible quinone-catechol reactions, and an autocatalytic mechanism, resulting in a dual crosslinking strategy that incorporates both covalent and ionic crosslinking. This approach creates a dynamic gel system with combined energy dissipation and storage mechanisms. The engineered organohydrogels demonstrate vital multifunctionalities such as good thermal stability, self-healing, and adhesive properties, flame-retardancy, mechanical resilience and durability, conductivity, viscoelastic properties, environmental adaptability, and resistance to extreme conditions such as freezing and drying. The developed catalytic technology and resulting gels hold significant potential for applications in flexible electronics, energy storage, actuators, and sensors.

A Study of the Key Factors on Production of Graphene Materials from Fe-Lignin Nanocomposites through a Molecular Cracking and Welding (MCW) Method

In this work, few-layer graphene materials were produced from Fe-lignin nanocomposites through a molecular cracking and welding (MCW) method. MCW process is a low-cost, scalable technique to fabricate few-layer graphene materials. It involves preparing metal (M)-lignin nanocomposites from kraft lignin and a transition metal catalyst, pretreating the M-lignin composites, and forming of the graphene-encapsulated metal structures by catalytic graphitization the M-lignin composites. Then, these graphene-encapsulated metal structures are opened by the molecule cracking reagents. The graphene shells are peeled off the metal core and simultaneously welded and reconstructed to graphene materials under a selected welding reagent. The critical parameters, including heating temperature, heating time, and particle sizes of the Fe-lignin composites, have been explored to understand the graphene formation mechanism and to obtain the optimized process parameters to improve the yield and selectivity of graphene materials.

A Case Study of Polyether Ether Ketone (I): Investigating the Thermal and Fire Behavior of a High-Performance Material

The thermal and fire behaviors of a high-performance polymeric material-polyether ether ketone (PEEK) was investigated. The TG plots of PEEK under different oxygen concentrations revealed that the initial step of thermal decomposition does not greatly depend on the oxygen level. However, oxygen concentration plays a major role in the subsequent decomposition steps. In order to understand the thermal decomposition mechanism of PEEK several methods were employed, i.e., pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) coupled with a Fourier-transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR). It was observed that the initial decomposition step of the material may lead to the release of noncombustible gases and the formation of a highly crosslinked graphite-like carbonaceous structure. Moreover, during the mass loss cone calorimetry test, PEEK has shown excellent charring and fire resistance when it is subjected to an incident heat flux of 50 kW/m². Based on the fire behavior and the identification of pyrolysis gases evolved during the decomposition of PEEK, the enhanced fire resistance of PEEK was assigned to the dilution of the flammable decomposition gases as well as the formation of a protective graphite-like charred structure during its decomposition. Moreover, at 60 kW/m², ignition occurred more quickly. This is because a higher rate of release of decomposition products is achieved at such a heat flux, causing a higher concentration of combustibles, thus an earlier ignition. However, the peak of heat release rate of the material did not exceed 125 kW/m².

Effect of Solvents on Fe-Lignin Precursors for Production Graphene-Based Nanostructures

Kraft lignin was catalytically graphitized to graphene-based nanostructures at high temperature under non-oxidative atmospheres. To obtain the best catalytic performance, a uniform catalyst–lignin mixture must be made by bonding transitional metal (M) ions to oxygen (O), sulfur (S) or nitrogen (N)-containing functional groups in kraft lignin. One of the strategies is to dissolve or disperse kraft lignin in a suitable solvent, whereby the polymer chains in the condensed lignin molecules will be detangled and stretched out while the functional groups are solvated, and when mixing lignin solution with catalyst metal solution, the solvated metal ions in an aqueous solution can diffuse and migrate onto lignin chains to form M-O, M-S, or M-N bonds during the mixing process. Therefore, solvent effects are important in preparing M–lignin mixture for production of graphene-based nanostructures. Fe–lignin precursors were prepared by dissolving lignin with different solvents, including water, methanol, acetone, and tetrahydrofuran (THF). Solvent effects on the catalytic performance, size and morphology of graphene-based nanostructures were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and nitrogen sorption measurements. The sizes, morphologies, and catalytic properties of the products obtained from Fe–lignin precursors are greatly influenced by the solvents used. It was found that Fe–lignin (THF) had the highest iron dispersion and the smallest iron particle size. Furthermore, Fe–lignin (THF) exhibited the best catalytic performance for graphitization of kraft lignin while the graphitization degree decreased in the order: Fe–lignin(THF) > Fe–lignin(Acetone) > Fe–lignin(methanol) > Fe–lignin(water).

Efficient Conversion of Lignin Waste to High Value Bio-Graphene Oxide Nanomaterials

Lignin graphene oxide was oxidized after Kraft lignin was graphitized by thermal catalytic conversion. The reduced lignin graphene oxide was derived from lignin graphene oxide through thermal reduction treatment. These Kraft lignin, lignin graphite, lignin graphene oxide, and reduced lignin graphene oxide were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, raman microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. The results showed lignin graphite converted from Kraft lignin had fewer layers with smaller lateral size than natural graphite. Moreover, lignin graphene oxide was successfully produced from lignin graphite by an oxidation reaction with an hour-long reaction time, which has remarkably shorter reaction time than that of graphene oxide made from natural graphite. Meanwhile, this lignin-derived graphene oxide had the same XRD, FTIR and Raman peaks as graphene oxide oxidized from natural graphite. The SEM, TEM, and AFM images showed that this lignin graphene oxide with 1⁻3 average layers has a smaller lateral size than that of graphene oxide made from natural graphite. Moreover, the lignin graphene oxide can be reduced to reduced lignin graphene oxide to fabricate graphene-based aerogel, wire, and film for some potential applications.

Synthesis of renewable acetic acid from CO2and lignin over an ionic liquid-based catalytic system

Renewable acetic acid can be synthesized from CO₂and lignin over an ionic liquid-based catalytic system containing Ru–Rh bimetal catalyst.