Structural characterization of lignin from D. sinicus by FTIR and NMR techniques

ABSTRACT

Milled wood lignin (MWL) was isolated from Dendrocalamus sinicus, an abundant bamboo variety in the earth, using Bjorkman method. Elucidation and quantification of the chemical structures for the isolated MWL have been facilitated by employing FT-IR and NMR techniques. The obtained results showed that the MWL consists of syringyl (S), guaiacyl (G), and p-hydroxyphenyl (H) units, indicating it as grass type (HGS) lignin. There is no significant change in structure (i.e. cleavage at α-O-4′ and β-O-4′ linkage) was observed. NMR techniques indicated that the isolated lignin was rich in β-O-4′ aryl ether substructures and syringyl (S) units. Furthermore, the sufficient understanding of the chemical structure of the lignin benefits their effective utilization towards the production of renewable biomass and biofuels.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Bamboo
• lignin
• structural characterization
• FT-IR
• NMR

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful for the financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31560195, 31760195), Education Department of Yunnan Province, China (2011Z040). Y. Meng appreciates the support from the Chinese Student Council scholarship.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Zhengjun Shi, is currently an associate professor of chemical engineering at Key Laboratory for Forest Resources Conservation and Use in the Southwest Mountains of China, College of Chemical Engineering, Southwest Forestry University, China. His current research focuses on biomass chemistry, biomaterial, and bioenergy. E-mail: [email protected].

Gaofeng Xu is currently a lecturer of chemical engineering at College of Chemical Engineering, Southwest Forestry University, China. He is pursuing his doctoral degree in Chemical Processing Engineering of Forest Products. His research interests focus on biomass utilization for sustainable energy and environmental applications. E-mail: [email protected].

Jia Deng is currently an associate professor of forestry at Key Laboratory for Forest Resources Conservation and Use in the Southwest Mountains of Ministry of Education, Southwest Forestry University, China. His current research focuses on biomass chemistry, biomaterial, and bioenergy. E-mail: [email protected].

Mengyao Dong is currently a joint Ph.D. student of Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Mold (Zhengzhou University), Ministry of Education; National Engineering Research Center for Advanced Polymer Processing Technology, Zhengzhou University and Integrated Composites Laboratory (ICL) at University of Tennessee. His research interest focuses on multifunctional polymer nanocomposite coating.

Vignesh Murugadoss is a Ph.D. student of Centre for Nanoscience and Technology at Pondicherry University, Puducherry, undergoing Indo-US BASE internship at Integrated Composites Laboratory, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. His research interests focus on advanced functional materials for sustainable energy and environmental applications.

Chuntai Liu, is a full professor and director of the Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Mold (Zhengzhou University), Ministry of Education; National Engineering Research Center for Advanced Polymer Processing Technology, Zhengzhou University. His current interests focus on the multifunctional polymer nanocomposites.

Qian Shao is a professor of the College of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Shandong University of Science & Technology. Her research interest focuses on novel catalysts.

Dr. Shide Wu, is a Professor of Chemical Engineering, Zhengzhou University of Light Industry. His research interest focuses on the energy storage and conversion.

Dr. Zhanhu Guo, currently an Associate Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Tennessee, obtained a Chemical Engineering Ph.D. degree from Louisiana State University (2005) and received three-year (2005–2008) postdoctoral training in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department in University of California Los Angeles. Dr. Guo directs the Integrated Composites Laboratory and chaired the Composite Division of American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE, 2010–2011). His current research focuses on multifunctional nanocomposites for anti-corrosion, energy harvesting, electronic devices, environmental remediation, fire retardancy, and electromagnetic radiation shielding/absorption applications.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Chinese Government Scholarship; National Natural Science Foundation of China [grant number 31560195, 31760195]; Education Department of Yunnan Province [grant number 2011Z040].