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Characterization of technical lignins by NMR spectroscopy: optimization of functional group analysis by 31P NMR spectroscopy

  • Philipp Korntner , Ivan Sumerskii , Markus Bacher , Thomas Rosenau and Antje Potthast EMAIL logo
Published/Copyright: March 11, 2015
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Abstract

31P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) based on the derivatization reagent 2-chloro-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaphospholane is a common approach for the hydroxyl group determination of lignins, but the results are sometimes less reproducible compared to other methods. In the present work, common pitfalls in 31P NMR analysis of kraft lignin (KL) and lignosulfonates (LS) are addressed and the results are compared to those obtained by 1H NMR spectroscopy. Several experimental parameters are revisited in terms of the reliability of the obtained data, such as the choice of relaxation delay, internal standards, and the best solution technique for the 31P NMR analysis of LS. For the first time, 31P NMR data of LS are presented based on a new dissolution protocol. The analytical data of a set of lignins consisting of three KLs, one LS, and one milled wood lignin are presented based on the optimized 31P NMR approach.


Corresponding author: Antje Potthast, Division of Chemistry of Renewable Resources, Department of Chemistry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Konrad-Lorenz-Str. 24, A-3430 Tulln, Austria, e-mail:

Acknowledgments

We thank VTT, Finland, for 31P NMR analysis of technical lignins used for comparison. We appreciate the support of Peter Bannauer with sample preparations. The authors acknowledge the FLIPPR° project for generous financial support.

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Received: 2014-10-1
Accepted: 2015-2-9
Published Online: 2015-3-11
Published in Print: 2015-8-1

©2015 by De Gruyter

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