Lignin is the most abundant natural aromatic polymer on the earth. In this work, lignin properties were studied in order to explore its use as a low cost carbon precursor for graphene production. Initial studies focused on kinetics of lignin pyrolysis using ‘Kissinger method’ and ‘ASTM E 1641’ using thermogravimetry. The values obtained for kinetic parameters varied for the two methods and activation energy increased with increase in lignin purity. Lignin was solvent fractionated, using three organic solvents to extract the high molecular weight fraction suitable for the production of highly ordered graphene nano platelets. Acetone and Methanol were successful in sequential fractionation. Finally, polycrystalline graphene was produced using Protobind 1000 and lignosulfonate lignins by carbonization. The acid purified graphene had relatively less catalytic material remaining, and nitric acid purification was successful compared to HCl purification. However, HNO3 purification introduced minor structural damages to the sample.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:MSSTATE/oai:scholarsjunction.msstate.edu:td-3950 |
| Date | 09 May 2015 |
| Creators | Dissanayake, Darshanamala |
| Publisher | Scholars Junction |
| Source Sets | Mississippi State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | Theses and Dissertations |
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