Abstract
Partition relationships of radioisotope labeled ethanol and 1-butanol between aqueous solutions and a hydrated commercial Kraft softwood lignin gel are presented. These initial evaluations indicate that lignin hydrogels preferentially concentrate 1-butanol and, to a lesser extent, ethanol. The process implications and potential use of lignin as an inexpensive extractant are discussed.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Portions of this research were sponsored by the Laboratory Directed Research and Development Program of Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), managed by UT-Battelle, LLC for the U. S. Department of Energy under Contract No. DE-AC05–00OR22725. Portions of this research were also sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture through its joint Biomass Program with the U.S. Department of Energy. Commercial Kraft softwood lignin, marketed as Indulin ATTM by Mead Westvaco was the kind gift of Mike Lake. The authors appreciated and used E. W. Hagaman's suggestions of best methods for purification of this material. The assistance of P. V. Bonnesen in the evaluation of radioisotope labeled samples was also appreciated. This article is not subject to U.S. copyright law.