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Improved Chemical Reactivity of Lignocellulose from High Solids Content Micro-fibrillation by Twin-screw Extrusion

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Abstract

The low reactivity of lignocellulose limits the effective chemical conversion of lignocellulose biomass into functional bioproducts. Mechanical micro-fibrillation treatment can improve the chemical accessibility of lignocellulose but usually has limited productivity by the low processing solids content. The presented work demonstrates effective micro-fibrillation of lignocellulose at high solids content up to 60 wt% can be achieved by twin-screw extrusion. Morphological characterizations of the extruded wood pulp lignocellulose show the degree of micro-fibrillation is enhanced by operating at higher solids content. The lignocellulose treated at 60 wt% solids content presents 2.1 and 4.8 times higher water retention capacity and specific surface area, respectively, than the original material. Acetylation results show the twin-screw extrusion pre-treatment can significantly accelerate the chemical modification of lignocellulose by 50%. This high productivity method for micro-fibrillating lignocellulose should be of great interest to the bioplastics industry.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by Clean Manufacturing and Nano-engineering of Sustainable Materials, Ontario Research Fund (ORF) led by Dr. Sain at the University of Toronto.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4L8, Canada

    Jinlei Li & Michael Thompson

  2. Xerox Research Centre of Canada, Mississauga, ON, L5K 2L1, Canada

    David J. W. Lawton

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  1. Jinlei Li
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  2. Michael Thompson
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  3. David J. W. Lawton
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Correspondence to Michael Thompson.

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Li, J., Thompson, M. & Lawton, D.J.W. Improved Chemical Reactivity of Lignocellulose from High Solids Content Micro-fibrillation by Twin-screw Extrusion. J Polym Environ 27, 643–651 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-019-01377-3

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