Investigation of the effects of different organosolv pulping methods on antioxidant capacity and extraction efficiency of lignin

Different organosolv pulping methods delignified raw materials (Acanthopanax senticosus remainder) were investigated, including acetone-acetic acid-water method (8/1/1, v/v/v), 1,4-butanediol-acetic acid-water method (8/1/1, v/v/v), ethanol-acetic acid-water method (8/1/1, v/v/v) and acetic acid-water method (4/1, v/v). Lignin extraction efficiency and antioxidant capacity from different organosolv methods were compared. The results showed that the lignin extraction efficiency of the 1,4-butanediol-acetic acid-water method was the highest (39%) among methods of this paper. The lignin from acetic acid-water method was the most effective free radical scavengers, whose 1,1-di-phenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging capacity (1050) was about 0.6587 mg/ml. Acanthopanax senticosus remainder (raw materials) and pulps were characterised by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and pulps strength properties. All lignin samples were analysed by Fourier-transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The results showed that organosolv pulping process had large influence on pulps morphology, pulps strength properties and lignin structure. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.