Thermal characterization of kraft lignin prepared from mixed hardwoods

Thermal characterization of kraft lignin (KL) prepared from mixed hardwoods was conducted to determine their thermal and thermo-oxidative stability, glass transition temperature (Tg), pyrolysis products composition, and syringyl/guaiacyl ratio. Two milled wood lignins (MWLs) from acacia (MWL-aca) and mixed hardwoods (MWL-mhw), the same hardwood species employed in the production of KL, were also characterized for comparison with KL. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) indicated that KL had higher thermal and thermo-oxidative stability than MWLs. Based on differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), the Tg of KL was 63.2 °C, while MWLs gave similar values near 165 °C. The syringyl (S), guaiacyl (G), p-hydroxyphenyl (H) composition of KL acquired from pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) at 675 °C was 48:44:8 (S/G ratio 1.07), while MWL-aca and MWL-mhw were 31:60:9 and 46:48:6, respectively.