Physicochemical characterisation of sugar cane bagasse lignin oxidized by hydrogen peroxide

The oxidation of soda lignin extracted from sugar cane bagasse was studied in acid medium. Soda lignin was precipitated from black liquor by adding (36N) sulphuric acid until the pH of the resultant solution was close to 2. The resultant, dried, material was oxidized using hydrogen peroxide. Soda lignin oxidized at different times was investigated by CHNS and EDX chemical analysis, GPC, FTIR and solid state CP-MAS 13C NMR spectroscopy. Oxidation increased the amount of carboxylic groups, while that of associated carbohydrates decreased. In addition, self-condensation with increase of molecular weight was observed.