Green Synthesis, Mechanism, & Intrinsic Properties of Kraft Lignin Nanoparticles

Abstract

Extended Abstract Lack of petroleum resources and sustainability concerns have led researchers to find green alternatives, such as Kraft Lignin (KL). KL is economical, eco-friendly, abundantly available, and usually obtained as a by-product from paper industries. KL is well known for its wide range of versatile applications such as, UV-absorber, antioxidant, anti-microbial, binder, dispersant, fillers, polymer, surfactant, a source of carbon and phenol, drug carrier, green composite, and 3D printing. [1] Due to its recent demand, scientists are synthesizing nanoparticles out of KL. Solvent shifting is the greenest method to synthesize Kraft Lignin Nanoparticles (KLNPs). State of the art: Lignin is dissolved in a solvent, then the lignin solution is mixed with an excess amount of non-solvent. The formation of the nanoparticles takes place immediately due to the self-assembly of lignin. The secondary valency forces such as intermolecular π-π stacking, H-bonding, and van der Waals forces of lignin drive the self-assembly. The identification and understanding of all the synthesis parameters behind the solvent-shifting is the gap in the literature. We identified five