Extraction and Characterization of Lignin from Herbivorous Animal Manure

Abstract

Lignin is derived from an abundant and renewable resource like plants and agricultural crops which are having moderate lignin content, but in the present study lignin produced from herbivorous animal manure which is having highest lignin content (53-56%) is a cheap and easily available bioresource. Lignin was extracted by breaking the chemical bonds such as phenyl glycosidic linkages, acetal linkages, R-ether bonds and ester bonds between lignin and carbohydrates from nonwood cellulosic biomass i.e herbivorous animal manure by hydrothermal treatment followed by alkali treatment. The isolated lignin was purified to remove impurities and for the characterization of structural and compositional features of lignin were summarized by various spectroscopic methods, such as ultraviolet spectroscopy and Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy. The thermal properties and chemical composition were analysed by Thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) and Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis and elemental analysis. The average molecular weight of the lignin (g/mol) and poly dispersity (PI) were determined using gel permeation chromatography (GPC).