From hollow lignin microsphere preparation to simultaneous preparation of urea encapsulation for controlled release using industrial kraft lignin via slow and exhaustive acetone-water evaporation
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and
Abstract
Lignin nano/microparticles have recently attracted growing interest for various value-additive applications of lignin, especially encapsulation. In this study, in order to establish a highly efficient and highly productive preparation process to effectively utilize technical lignin, a brand-new, slow and exhaustive solution evaporation process following a simple, self-assembly principle was developed using industrial softwood kraft lignin (SKL) from a starting acetone-water (80/20, v/v) solution to recover 100% of the lignin as homogeneous and well-shaped microspheres. The prepared microspheres had a typical average diameter of 0.81 ± 0.15 μm and were hollow with very thin shells (of nanoscale thickness). Based on this developed technique, encapsulation of urea by these lignin microspheres was directly achieved using the same process as hollow lignin microspheres with urea attached to the outside and entrapped inside of the wall. Two distinct urea release rates were observed for the urea-encapsulated microspheres: a fast release of the urea outside the shell wall and a slow (controlled) release of the urea inside the shell wall. The encapsulation efficiency was as high as 46% of the trapped urea as encapsulated inside the lignin microspheres. The slow and exhaustive solution evaporation procedure reported here is a simple and straightforward method for the valorization of industrial kraft lignin as hollow microspheres with controllable, homogeneous and desired morphologies, and especially for the direct preparation of lignin-based encapsulating fertilizers for controlled release.
Acknowledgments
Dr. Anwar Ahniyaz from RISE/Bioscience and Materials is acknowledged for the TEM analysis.
Author contributions: All the authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this submitted manuscript and approved submission.
Research funding: None declared.
Employment or leadership: None declared.
Honorarium: None declared.
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©2020 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston
Articles in the same Issue
- 10.1515/hf-2020-frontmatter1
- Original Articles
- Genotypic variation in the basic density, dynamic modulus of elasticity and tracheid traits of Pinus elliottii in three progeny trials in southern China
- Moisture-dependent orthotropic viscoelastic properties of Chinese fir wood during quenching in the temperature range of 20 to −120°C
- Comparison of whole-tree wood property maps based on near-infrared spectroscopic calibrations utilizing data at different spatial resolutions
- Variation and serial correlation of modulus of elasticity between and within European oak boards (Quercus robur and Q. petraea)
- Natural durability of subfossil oak: wood chemical composition changes through the ages
- Thermo-vacuum treatment of poplar (Populus spp.) plywood
- Dynamic moisture sorption and dimensional stability of furfurylated wood with low lignin content
- From hollow lignin microsphere preparation to simultaneous preparation of urea encapsulation for controlled release using industrial kraft lignin via slow and exhaustive acetone-water evaporation
- Short Note
- Lignan glycosides from the stems of Viburnum melanocarpum and their α-glucosidase inhibitory activity
Articles in the same Issue
- 10.1515/hf-2020-frontmatter1
- Original Articles
- Genotypic variation in the basic density, dynamic modulus of elasticity and tracheid traits of Pinus elliottii in three progeny trials in southern China
- Moisture-dependent orthotropic viscoelastic properties of Chinese fir wood during quenching in the temperature range of 20 to −120°C
- Comparison of whole-tree wood property maps based on near-infrared spectroscopic calibrations utilizing data at different spatial resolutions
- Variation and serial correlation of modulus of elasticity between and within European oak boards (Quercus robur and Q. petraea)
- Natural durability of subfossil oak: wood chemical composition changes through the ages
- Thermo-vacuum treatment of poplar (Populus spp.) plywood
- Dynamic moisture sorption and dimensional stability of furfurylated wood with low lignin content
- From hollow lignin microsphere preparation to simultaneous preparation of urea encapsulation for controlled release using industrial kraft lignin via slow and exhaustive acetone-water evaporation
- Short Note
- Lignan glycosides from the stems of Viburnum melanocarpum and their α-glucosidase inhibitory activity
