Author(s):
Silva, Eduardo A.B. ; Zabkova, Miriam ; Araújo, José D. ; Cateto, Carolina ; Barreiro, M.F. ; Belgacem, Mohamed Naceur ; Rodrigues, Alírio
Date: 2009
Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10198/1413
Origin: Biblioteca Digital da UPB
Subject(s): Kraft lignin; Vanillin; Polyurethanes; Oxidation; Ultrafiltration; Integrated process
Description
The aim of this manuscript is to present an integrated process that includes reaction and separation steps for producing vanillin and lignin-based polyurethanes from Kraft lignin. It provides details about lignin oxidation and subsequent vanillin recovery, as well as, the synthesis of lignin-based polyurethanes. The oxidation of Kraft lignin in alkaline medium has been carried out in a batch reactor and the optimum operational conditions for vanillin production obtained. The feasibility of a continuous process for vanillin production has been analyzed using a structured bubble column reactor. The generated reaction stream (degraded lignin and sodium vanillate) was further subjected to an ultrafiltration process to recover the vanillate. An ion-exchange process allows recovering the vanillin by passing the vanillate solution through a column packed with an ion-exchange resin in H+ form. The remaining lignin can act as a raw material to produce polyurethanes and/or biofuels. In this work the first approach was explored.