Kraft lignin is a high volume byproduct of pulp production that is currently used as an energy supply. Lignin is also a byproduct of biofuels and bioproduct production which also is usually for process energy. In this current work we convert lignin into a more valuable material such as graphitic carbon which is used in Li-Polymer batteries through hydrothermal and metal catalysis reactions. First, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) was performed on raw lignin to determine the thermal resistance. Then, the lignin was subjected to a hydrothermal treatment at 300 °C and 1500 PSI in a high pressure reactor in order to produce Biochar. The Biochar was mixed with iron, cobalt and manganese nitrate at different temperatures in the range from 900 to 1100 °C under an inert nitrogen atmosphere. Finally, the resulting graphitic carbon was washed with HCl in order to remove residual metals. Structural and surface properties of the resulting graphite based materials were investigated by FTIR, XPS, BET surface analyzer and elemental analysis. XRD results showed that MnNO3 gives the best graphization. Electrical conductivity tests measured the difference between the graphite produced, and graphite used in Li-Polymer batteries.

Metal nitrate catalytic graphization of lignin via hydrothermal supporting method

249th National Meeting (2015)

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