The interfacial activities of kraft lignin and lignosulfonates can be augmented through grafting hydrophilic polymers via controlled radical techniques. Reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization is compatible with highly polar monomers, and lignin-based macroinitiators can readily be formed. The resulting products are based on a lignin nanoparticle core and polymer corona with control over graft density, molecular weight, and composition. We demonstrate that polymer-grafted lignin nanoparticles act as high-performance surfactants, with significant reductions in surface tension, stabilization of emulsions, and plasticization of cement paste and other solid-particle suspensions. In comparison, polymer-lignin constructs based on free radical polymerization are much less effective in all surfactant applications, suggesting control over molecular architecture is critical for leveraging the intrinsic interfacial activities of lignin.

Augmenting the interfacial activities of lignins using controlled radical polymerization

251st National Meeting (2016)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.