Controlling the Molecular Weight of Lignosulfonates by an Alkaline Oxidative Treatment at Moderate Temperatures and Atmospheric Pressure: A Size-Exclusion and Reverse-Phase Chromatography Study.

The molecular weights of lignosulfonates (LSs) are modified by a rather simple process involving an alkaline oxidative treatment at moderate temperatures (70-90 °C) and atmospheric pressure. Starting from LSs with an average molecular weight of 90,000 Da, and using such a treatment, one can prepare controlled molecular weight LSs in the range of 30,000 to 3500 Da based on the average mass molecular weight. The LS depolymerisation was monitored via reverse-phase and size-exclusion chromatography. It has been shown that the combination of O2, H2O2 and Cu as a catalyst in alkaline conditions at 80 °C induces a high LS depolymerisation. The depolymerisation was systemically accompanied by a vanillin production, the yields of which reached 1.4 wt % (weight percentage on LS raw basis) in such conditions. Also, the average molecular weight and vanillin concentration were correlated and depended linearly on the temperature and reaction duration.

Mechanistic modeling of enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose integrating substrate morphology and cocktail composition.

A mechanistic model of enzymatic hydrolysis taking into account the morphology of the cellulosic particles and its evolution with time was developed. The individual behavior of the main enzymes involved in the reaction (cellobiohydrolases, endoglucanases, and ß-glucosidases), as well as synergy effects, were also included. A large panel of experimental tests was done to fit and validate the model. This database included different enzymes mixtures and operating conditions and allowed to determine and compare with accuracy the adsorption and kinetic parameters of the different enzymes. Model predictions on short hydrolysis times were very satisfactory. On longer times, a deactivation constant was added to represent the hydrolysis slowdown. The model also allowed to predict the impact of enzymes ratios and initial substrate parameters (chain length distribution, polymerization degree) on hydrolysis, and to follow the evolution of these parameters with time. This model revealed general trends on the impact of cellulose morphology on hydrolysis. It is a useful tool to better understand the mechanisms involved in enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose and to determine optimal cellulolytic cocktails for process design.

Formation of carbonyl groups on cellulose during ozone treatment of pulp: consequences for pulp bleaching.

The formation of carbonyl groups during the ozone treatment (Z) of eucalyptus (Eucalyptus grandis and Eucalyptus urophylla hybrid) kraft pulps and their behaviors during subsequent alkaline stages were investigated by the CCOA method with carbazole-9-carboxylic acid [2-(2-aminooxethoxy)-ethoxy] amide (CCOA) as the carbonyl-selective fluorescence label. Several pulp samples with or without lignin and hexenuronic acids (hexA) were used to elucidate the effects of these components when present in unbleached kraft pulp. Both hexA and lignin increased the formation of carbonyl groups on cellulose and hemicellulose during ozonation. It was concluded that radicals are likely formed when ozone reacts with either lignin or hexA. These carbonyl groups were involved in cellulose depolymerization during subsequent alkaline extraction stages with sodium hydroxide (E) and alkaline hydrogen peroxide (P, in ZEP or ZP). Their numbers decreased after E but increased during P when H2O2 was not stabilized enough. Several ways to minimize the occurrence of carbonyl group formation are suggested.

Isolation of residual lignin from softwood kraft pulp. Advantages of the acetic acid acidolysis method.

Lignin in kraft pulp was extracted by enzymatic hydrolysis of the carbohydrates, acidolysis with dioxane-water-HCl (conventional method), and acidolysis with acetic acid-water-ZnCl2. The latter method was shown to extract lignin with a better yield than for conventional acidolysis and with a much lower content in impurities than for enzymatic hydrolysis. It was confirmed by 13C NMR analysis of the lignin samples that conventional hydrolysis modified the lignin polymer, causing the cleavage of some aryl-ether linkages. The cleavage was also observed on a model compound submitted to the same extraction conditions. In that respect, the acetic acid-water-ZnCl2 method was less damaging and consequently more suitable for analytical purposes.