TY  - EJOU
AU  - Jacob, Sinto 
AU  - Misra, Manjusri 
AU  - Mohanty, Amar 

TI  - Green Synthesis for Lignin Plasticization: Aqueous Graft  Copolymerization with Methyl Methacrylate
T2  - Journal of Renewable Materials

PY  - 2013
VL  - 1
IS  - 2
SN  - 2164-6341

AB  - This study investigated the use of potassium persulfate (KPS) as an initiator for the grafting of methyl 
methacrylate (MMA) onto softwood kraft lignin. Ammonium iron (II) sulfate hexahydrate was used as a 
catalyst to overcome the inherent inhibition of lignin to free radical grafting and to make lignin copolymer 
under mild conditions using an aqueous medium. The infl uence of temperature, initiator concentration, time 
of reaction and monomer concentration on percentage of grafting were studied. A maximum of 31% grafting 
was achieved at 55ο
C. Graft copolymer was identifi ed from the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrum 
by the new absorption peak at 1723 cm<sup>−1</sup>
and the reduction of intensity of the band around 3350 cm<sup>−1</sup>
. The 
reduction of glass transition temperature (<i>T</i><sub>g</sub>
), surface morphology and higher decomposition temperature of 
grafted lignin support the grafting of MMA on lignin. The grafted chains increased the surface area of lignin.
KW  - Lignin
KW  -  graft copolymerization
KW  -  methyl methacrylate
KW  -  potassium persulfate
KW  -  FTIR

DO  - 10.7569/JRM.2012.634107