Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Oil–water emulsions constitute essential components in a wide range of industries. Despite their extensive use in emulsion systems, synthetic emulsifiers are often associated with environmental concerns and high costs. In this study, lignin—a by-product of the pulping industry—was polymerized with acrylic acid and employed as an emulsifier in a xylene–water system to address this challenge. When testing two lignin–acrylic acid copolymers, the results confirmed that the one possessing a higher molecular weight (7.99 × 105 g/mol) and charge density (4.7 mmol/g) (KL-AA-10) generated xylene–water emulsions with improved stability, and higher viscosity and viscoelastic moduli. These observations were consistent with the greater adsorption of this polymer, relative to the counterparts with a lower molecular weight and charge density at the xylene–water interface, as monitored using a Quartz Crystal Microbalance. The adsorption of KL-AA-10 resulted in the formation of smaller emulsion droplets (D50 = 0.6 µm) within the system, as evidenced by confocal microscopy analysis. This study underscores the potential of lignin as a renewable emulsifier for diverse applications.
Source: Polymers
Institutions: Lakehead University, Toronto Metropolitan University
Language: English
Topic: Lignin and Wood Chemistry
Subfield: Biomedical Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,258
OpenAlex ID: W7156313543