Electrospun green fibres from lignin and chitosan: a novel polycomplexation process for the production of lignin-based fibres

Abstract

Novel lignin-chitosan polyelectrolyte fibres were produced through a reactive electrospinning process. Polyelectrolyte formation between the anionic lignin and cationic chitosan was controlled through the pH of the solution. Through manipulating the polyelectrolyte complex formation, fibres could be effectively produced from two biopolymers, which are normally very difficult to electrospin on their own. Though minimal amounts of the petroleum-derived polyethylene oxide were introduced into the solution to enhance the spinnability of the polyelectrolyte solution, it could be easily removed from the fibres post spinning by washing with water. Thus, pure biopolymer fibres could be produced. The optimum composition of lignin to chitosan was identified through SEM, FTIR and TGA analysis of the electrospun fibres. Fluorescence spectra of the electrospun fibres reveal the homogeneous distribution of lignin and chitosan components throughout the fibre network.

A Review on Biopolymer-Based Fibers via Electrospinning and Solution Blowing and Their Applications

“…Collected electrospun nanofiber morphologies suggested that above 80% of lignin in PEO solution makes the electrospinning process unstable, and below this percentage nanofibers collected were stable and smooth, and at 80% of lignin in PEO solution, fiber diameter obtained was 150 nm. Schreiber et al, (2014) [197] fabricated electrospun nanofibers from anionic sodium carbonate lignin (ASCL), cationic chitosan (CC), and PEO via polyelectrolyte complex formation under a controlled pH and showed a mixed biopolymer nanofiber production, which is otherwise difficult to fabricate. Solutions were prepared with different ASCL, CC, and PEO concentration in w/v %, namely-0.6% PEO, 1.5% chitosan and 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, or 3.0% ASCL.…”

Microscopic, structural, and electrical characterization of the carbonaceous materials synthesized from various lignin feedstocks

“…In addition to that lignin has been used for the synthesis of various types of carbon materials including activate carbon, carbon black and carbon fibers. Recent developments in lignin based carbon materials are the fabrication of electrospun carbon nanofibers and other carbon based particulate nanostructures for various technological applications . However, the nanofabrication techniques have not been investigated to a great extent.…”

Crosslinking of lignin/poly(vinyl alcohol) nanocomposite fiber webs and their antimicrobial and ultraviolet-protective properties

“…The electrospinnability of lignin was significantly enhanced by the use of easily electrospun synthetic polymers. 9,11,12 However, as Dallmeyer et al. 9 and Schreiber et al.…”

“…The electrospinnability of lignin was significantly enhanced by the use of easily electrospun synthetic polymers. 9,11,12 However, as Dallmeyer et al 9 and Schreiber et al 12 fabricated lignin-based nanocomposite fibers to produce precursors for carbon fibers, they focused on ways to control the diameters and morphology of the resulting fibers in order to yield highquality carbon fibers. In other words, there has been a scarcity of research on the functionalities of ligninbased nanocomposite fibers for use as final products.…”