Lignin is an undervalued product that does not yet provide economic returns. Finding value-added applications of lignin is needed to achieve economic sustainability. Carbon nanoparticles have great technological and industrial importance because of their enhanced physicochemical, electrical, thermal and mechanical properties. In this work a novel method has been explored to produce carbon nanoparticles from lignin. The objective of this work is to synthesize carbon nanoparticles with high surface area from lignin through the carbonization process. Lignin was dissolved in alkaline solutions with different weight ratios of lignin and potassium hydroxide. An intermediate sublimation process was adopted to reduce agglomeration of particles. The lignin was thermo-stabilized after the sublimation process in oxidizing atmosphere followed by the carbonization process in an inert atmosphere at 700oC using tubular furnace. The increase in glass transition tem-perature during thermo-stabilization process was confirmed by DSC analysis. The con-densation reactions during thermo-stabilization process were confirmed by FTIR analysis. The formation of carbon nanoparticles was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis. Carbon nanoparticles with high specific surface area of 42 m2/g were produced. From the DLS particle size distribution it was found that 5 wt% KOH is the optimum concentration for synthesizing carbon nanoparticles from lignin. / Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) New Directions Research Program for funding the project (number SR 225).

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When high yield chemimechanical sulphite pulp fibres were suspended in water, both lignin and carbohydrate were leached out of the pulp. The rate of leaching fitted a theory developed previously for the diffusion of macromolecules through the water-swollen fibre wall. The average intrafibre diffusion coefficients for lignin and carbohydrate were several orders of magnitude lower than the free diffusion of these macromolecules in solution. Leaching over a long period indicated a polydispersity of diffusion coefficients. This was related to an increase with time in the molecular weights of macromolecules removed from the fibre. Although the rate of leaching increased markedly with temperature, the diffusion coefficient of lignin decreased, while that of carbohydrate increased by a factor higher than that predicted by the Stokes-Einstein equation. These contrasting results were interpreted in terms of the molecular weights of the diffusing species and hydrogen bonding of carbohydrate to the fibre wall. The rate of leaching decreased with an increase in pulp yield, increasing cationic strength and pH of the wash water, decreasing refining energy, pretreatment of pulp with formaldehyde, and the use of polyethyleneoxide/alum retention aid in the wash water. Decreasing pH of the cooking liquor and the use of anthraquinone in the pulping increased the leaching of lignin but did not affect the leaching of carbohydrate. The effects observed could be related either to swelling or degradation of the fibre wall.

Thesis--University of Washington. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1998. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [92]-97).

Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1991. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 138-141). Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1968. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.