Armindo Ribeiro Gaspar

Alternatives for lignocellulosic pulp delignification using polyoxometalates and oxygen: a review

A review on the use of polyoxometalates (POMs) and oxygen, for the delignification of lignocellulosic pulps is presented. Two main processes using POMs for the delignification of pulp have been investigated: an anaerobic process in which the POMs have been used, in aqueous solutions, as stoichiometric reagents for the oxidative degradation of residual lignin, with their re-oxidation by oxygen occurring in a subsequently separate stage; and an aerobic process in which the POMs were designed to perform as catalysts in the oxygen delignification. In the aerobic approach, the lignin oxidation and the reactivation of the POM take place in the same stage of the process. The feasibility of the catalytic system was shown by pilot plant experiments. Following the green chemistry goals, these processes are environmentally friendly approaches and may allow a significant decrease of chlorine-based chemical consumption by the pulp-and-paper industry. The use of the POMs together with laccase for the oxygen delignification of lignocellulosic pulps will also be considered. Final comments regarding the practical application of the POMs are pointed out.

Propensity of Lignin to Associate: Light Scattering Photometry Study with Native Lignins

Many studies of lignins in solution invoke association and aggregation phenomena to explain their solution behavior (e.g., reprecipitation onto pulp fibers, condensation, etc.). Following their colloidal (apparent) molecular weights in solution as a function of time allows us to explore observable dissociation phenomena. These measurements were carried out using multiple angle laser light scattering (MALLS) photometry in the static mode. The challenges and opportunities of measuring the specific refractive index increment (dn/dC) of lignin solutions and determining the kinetics of the dissociation process were thus investigated. Hardwood and softwood representative lignins were isolated, and method for their full dissolution in THF was further developed, which then lead to accurate dn/dC values being obtained as a function of time. When coupled to additional work using light scattering static measurements and Zimm plots for the same solutions, this effort offers insight into the aggregation and ensuing dissociative events that operate within the lignin macromolecules.

Molecular weight-functional group relations in softwood residual kraft lignins

Abstract An integrated picture of the distribution of functional groups should be provided as a function of molecular size within residual kraft lignins. With this goal we developed a reliable and reproducible method for determination of the molecular weight and molecular weight distribution of residual kraft lignins (RKLs) over the whole delignification range. In general, our data indicate that for reliable measurement of the molecular weight and its distribution of residual lignin in pulps, the lignin-carbohydrate bonds have to be cleaved prior to size exclusion chromatography. The recently developed method for isolating residual lignins, which involves cellulolytic treatment followed by a mild acid hydrolysis step, was found to be the most suitable approach to achieve this. The molecular weight and polydispersity of all RKLs decreased as a function of delignification. As anticipated, the observed decrease in molecular weight was clearly reflected in the concomitantly decreasing amount of β-O-4 structural linkages present. Similarly, the total phenolic hydroxyl content increased as the molecular weight of the RKLs decreased during kraft pulping. Despite the smaller size of the lignin remaining on the kraft fiber at the end of delignification, the preponderance of condensed phenolic structures within these lignins offers an explanation for delignification problems during bleaching.

POLYOXOMETALATE-CATALYZED OXYGEN DELIGNIFICATION PROCESS: KINETIC STUDIES, DELIGNIFICATION SEQUENCES AND REUSE OF HPA-5-MnII AQUEOUS SOLUTION

Kinetic studies on the use of Mn-assisted molybdovanadophosphate polyoxoanion (HPA-5-MnII) as catalyst for the aerobic delignification of Eucalyptus globulus kraft pulps were performed. The delignification as measured by the decrease of kappa number corrected to the lignin content in pulp followed pseudo-first-order reaction kinetics with a rate constant of 4.0 × 10−3 min−1, while carbon dioxide production followed pseudo-zero-order kinetics with a rate constant of 0.031 g Kg−1 min−1. Aqueous delignification filtrate containing the polyoxometalate (POM) HPA-5-MnII could be used in 16 multiple delignification cycles without showing significant changes in the kappa number of the delignified pulps and presenting only slight decreases in their intrinsic viscosity. Delignification sequence including a conventional alkaline-oxygen delignification stage followed by a POM stage generated a kappa number decrease of 76% while intrinsic viscosity had a drop of only 23%.

Lignin reactions in oxygen delignification catalysed by Mn(II)-substituted molybdovanadophosphate polyanion

Abstract The lignin oxidation in the oxygen delignification/bleaching process catalysed by Mn(II) substituted heptamolybdopentavanadophosphate polyanion (HPA-5-MnII) was studied using monomeric lignin model compounds and Eucalyptus globulus dioxane lignin adsorbed on the bleached sulphite pulp. The analysis of reaction products after lignin models oxidation in the presence HPA-5-MnII and the parent heptamolybdopentavanadophosphate polyanion (HPA-5) showed similar qualitative and quantitative patterns, indicating the identical lignin oxidative delignification mechanisms with both catalysts. The higher delignification selectivity of the pulp in the reaction system HPA-5-MnII/O2 than with HPA-5/O2 was explained by the protective effect of MnII in the heteropolyanion towards oxidative degradation of polysaccharides. The study of lignin adsorbed on bleached sulphite pulp, in the HPA-5-MnII/O2 delignification system, showed the cleavage of β-O-4 linkages as the major contribution to the lignin depolymerisation. The formation of Cα-O-polysaccharide linkages in β-O-4 structures of lignin during the delignification was observed.