리그닌 기반 전기방사 섬유 제조 및 특성

Lignin, a byproduct of the pulping process, is an eco-friendly material that can potentially replace petroleum-based polymers and can be fabricated into nanocomposite fibers through electrospinning. This study explored the electrospinning of lignin/poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) blends using two different lignin sources: softwood kraft lignin (SL) and bamboo organosolv lignin (BL). The effects of PEO content (3–6 wt%) and lignin type on solution properties and fiber formation were investigated. The viscosity of the spinning solutions increased with higher PEO content, and BL solutions exhibited higher viscosity than SL solutions under the same conditions. The fiber diameter increased with the PEO content, regardless of the lignin type, with diameters ranging from 320 to 878 nm. At the same PEO concentration, BL-based fibers exhibited larger diameters than SL-based fibers. Furthermore, when the PEO content exceeded 5 wt%, uniform, and bead-free nanofibers were successfully formed. These research findings demonstrate the potential for lignin-based nanofiber production. When utilizing bamboo organosolv lignin, it is expected that the amount of PEO additive can be reduced compared to softwood kraft lignin.