Study on improvement of preparation efficiency of lignin rich micro-cellulosic fines

We compared the characteristics of the three LMCFs (lignin rich micro-cellulosic fines) prepared by microwave irradiation, oil bath treatment and high pressure steam treatment from pine wood powder. The residual lignin contents of the LMCFs prepared by the three methods were almost similar but the yields were different. The microwave irradiation method hydrolyzed the pine wood powder more greatly compared to the other methods. So, the LMCFs prepared by microwave irradiation showed the lowest particle size and the least amount of hydroxyl groups but, showed the highest total crystallinity index. It was found that the LMCFs prepared by the three methods were similar in morphology but different in content of aromatic ring and carbonyl group. Based on these results, LMCFs could be produced efficiently depending on the manufacturing time, energy cost, and uniformity of micronized samples. It was concluded that the high pressure steam treatment method, which produces the uniform production of LMCFs as the purpose, is the optimum micronization method.