Filtration properties of kraft lignin: The influence of xylan and precipitation conditions
Journal article, 2017

LignoBoost lignin powder was dissolved together with xylan and re-precipitated. The influence of the (i) precipitation temperature, (ii) rate of acidification and (iii) final pH of the slurries on the resulting material and its filtration properties was investigated. In the case of slow acidification, larger agglomerates were obtained for slurries with higher precipitation temperatures as well as with higher ionic strengths. Fast acidification led to a more heterogeneous formation of particles, having a broader particle size distribution, compared to slow acidification. Chemical analysis of different layers of the filter cakes formed revealed that xylan was distributed evenly on the solid lignin, reinforcing the hypothesis that xylan is sorbed onto the lignin agglomerates when precipitated together with lignin. Furthermore, the resulting lignin-xylan mixtures were found to be more difficult to filter in the case of a higher final pH of the slurry (pH 4), close to the pKa values of the carboxylic acid groups of xylan, compared to lower pH values (pH 1-3). This is likely the result of an increase in electrostatic repulsive interactions between the particles/agglomerates at higher pH: a locally more porous solid structure is formed, leading to a larger solid/liquid surface area during filtration.

Acid precipitation

Particle properties

Cake filtration

Xylan

Kraft softwood lignin

Author

Julie Durruty

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chemical Technology

Tor Sewring

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chemical Technology

H. Schneider

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chemical Technology

L. Schneider

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chemical Technology

Tuve Mattsson

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chemical Technology

Wallenberg Wood Science Center (WWSC)

Hans Theliander

Wallenberg Wood Science Center (WWSC)

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chemical Technology

Nordic Pulp and Paper Research Journal

0283-2631 (ISSN) 2000-0669 (eISSN)

Vol. 32 4 508-526

Subject Categories

Materials Engineering

Areas of Advance

Energy

DOI

10.3183/npprj-2017-32-04_p508-526_theliander

More information

Latest update

3/10/2022