Selected Kraft lignin fractions as precursor for carbon foam: Structure-performance correlation and electrochemical applications
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A1 Alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä
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Date
2023-06-15
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en
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International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, Volume 240
Abstract
The rapid exhaustion of fossil fuels brings to the fore the need to search for energy efficient strategies. The conversion of lignin into advanced functional carbon-based materials is considered one of the most promising solutions for environmental protection and the use of renewable resources. This study analyzed the structure-performance correlation of carbon foams (CF) when lignin-phenol-formaldehyde (LPF) resins produced with different fractions of kraft lignin (KL) were employed as carbon source, and polyurethane foam (PU) as sacrificial mold. The lignin fractions employed were KL, fraction of KL insoluble in ethyl acetate (LFIns) and fraction of KL soluble in ethyl acetate (LFSol). The produced CFs were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, 2D HSQC Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), and electrochemical measurements. The results showed that when LFSol was employed as a partial substitute for phenol in LPF resin synthesis, the final performance of the produced CF was infinitely higher. The improved solubility parameters of LFSol along with the higher S/G ratio and β-O-4/α-OH content after fractionation were the key to produce CF with better carbon yields (54 %). The electrochemical measurements showed that LFSol presented the highest current density (2.11 × 10−4 mA.cm−2) and the lowest value of resistance to charge transfer (0.26 KΩ) in relation to the other samples, indicating that the process of electron transfer was faster in the sensor produced with LFSol. LFSol's potential for application as an electrochemical sensor was tested as a proof of concept and demonstrated excellent selectivity for the detection of hydroquinone in water.Description
Funding Information: This work was financed in part by the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel - Brazil ( CAPES ) - Financing Code 001. Process Number: 88882.427090/2019-01 and 88881.622738/2021-01 (JSR), 1823185 (ASMF) and 88887.497915/2020-00 (CCM), São Paulo State Research Support Foundation-FAPESP (Project 2019/19401-1 ). This work made use of Aalto University Bioeconomy Facilities. Our gratitude and tributes to our dear colleague Prof. Dr. Mikael Balakshin who left us so early. Publisher Copyright: © 2023 Elsevier B.V.
Keywords
Carbon foams, Kraft lignin, Lignin fractions, Thermal decomposition. Electrochemical applications
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Citation
Rodrigues, J S, de Freitas, A D S M, Maciel, C C, Guizani, C, Rigo, D, Ferreira, M, Hummel, M, Balakshin, M & Botaro, V R 2023, ' Selected Kraft lignin fractions as precursor for carbon foam: Structure-performance correlation and electrochemical applications ', International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, vol. 240, 124460 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.124460