The extraction of lignin from black liquor poses a significant challenge in time-efficient analysis of waste streams that includes determination of lignin content and its molar mass. The Alice Core Facility provides an innovative approach for directly analyzing diluted black liquors using size-exclusion chromatography (SEC). This method allows for the concurrent determination of lignin content and its molar mass without the need for laborious sample isolation and preparation. As a result, the total analysis time is reduced from 1–2 days to just 30 minutes. For quantifying lignin, UV detection at different wavelength is used. Molar mass analysis is achieved through conventional calibration adjusted by MALLS-785 nm measurements (more information can be found in “Molar mass distribution of lignins” section). This method offers a rapid and effective means of characterizing complex lignin samples crucial for real-time process control in both industrial and academic settings.
References
Kohlhuber, N., Musl, O., Sulaeva, I., Böhmdorfer, S., Sumerskii, I., Ters, T., Rosenau, T., Potthast, A. (2023).
Adding Speed to Lignin Analysis Straight from Black Liquors.
ACS Sustainable Chemisty & Engineering, 11(42), 15294-15301. doi: 10.1021/acssuschemeng.3c03616
