Monodispersed Renewable Particles by Cascade and Density Gradient Size Fractionation to Advance Lignin Nanotechnologies

Renewable wood-derived lignin particles (LPs) are prepared by the anti-solvent method and size-fractionated into monodisperse populations (PDI< 0.06, dynamic light scattering), covering the submicron range from 60 to 860 nm. Three different colloidal behaviors are identified and associated with the physicochemical features of the monodisperse LPs as a function of their characteristic size. AbstractControl over particle size and shape heterogeneity is highly relevant to the design of photonic coatings and supracolloidal assemblies. Most developments in the area have relied on mineral and petroleum-derived polymers that achieve well-defined chemical and dimensional characteristics. Unfortunately, it is challenging to attain such control when considering renewable nanoparticles. Herein, a pathway toward selectable biobased particle size and physicochemical profiles is proposed. Specifically, lignin is fractionated, a widely available heterogeneous polymer that can be dissolved in aqueous solution, to obtain a variety of monodispersed particle fractions. A two-stage cascade and density gradient centrifugation that relieves the need for solvent pre-extraction or other pretreatments but achieves particle bins of uniform size (~60 to 860  nm and polydispersity, PDI<0.06, dynamic light scattering) along with characteristic surface chemical features is introduced. It is found that the properties and associated colloidal behavior of the particles are suitably classified in disti...
Source: Small - Category: Nanotechnology Authors: Tags: Research Article Source Type: research