Open Access

ARTICLE

Green Synthesis for Lignin Plasticization: Aqueous Graft Copolymerization with Methyl Methacrylate

Sinto Jacob¹, Manjusri Misra^1,2, Amar Mohanty^1,2,*

1 Bioproducts Discovery and Development Centre (BDDC), Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G2W1, Canada
2 School of Engineering, Thornbrough Building, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G2W1, Canada

* Corresponding Author:

Journal of Renewable Materials 2013, 1(2), 154-165. https://doi.org/10.7569/JRM.2012.634107

Received 06 October 2012; Accepted 04 January 2013;

Abstract

This study investigated the use of potassium persulfate (KPS) as an initiator for the grafting of methyl methacrylate (MMA) onto softwood kraft lignin. Ammonium iron (II) sulfate hexahydrate was used as a catalyst to overcome the inherent inhibition of lignin to free radical grafting and to make lignin copolymer under mild conditions using an aqueous medium. The infl uence of temperature, initiator concentration, time of reaction and monomer concentration on percentage of grafting were studied. A maximum of 31% grafting was achieved at 55ο C. Graft copolymer was identifi ed from the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrum by the new absorption peak at 1723 cm⁻¹ and the reduction of intensity of the band around 3350 cm⁻¹ . The reduction of glass transition temperature (T_g ), surface morphology and higher decomposition temperature of grafted lignin support the grafting of MMA on lignin. The grafted chains increased the surface area of lignin.

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Keywords

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