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Authors
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Mondlane, C. D.; Pfukwa, H.; Lederer, A.
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Title
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Advances and challenges in molar mass determination of technical lignins: Toward robust analytical approaches
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Date
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06.02.2026
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Number
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0
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Abstract
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The accurate determination of lignin molar mass is pivotal for its valorization and eventual integration into sustainable value chains. Although large amounts of technical lignins are generated during pulping, their utilization remains limited due to broad molar mass distributions and structural complexity. Analytical characterization is hindered by solubility issues, aggregation, and self-fluorescence. Advances in sample preparation using organic or binary solvents, salts, or chemical modification along with detector adaptations, such as infrared lasers and fluorescence filters, have addressed some of these barriers. Conventional separation methods, including size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation (AF4), provide valuable insights but differ in solvent demand, environmental footprint, and data resolution. This perspective highlights how future progress must couple analytical precision with sustainability. Emerging techniques such as thermal field-flow fractionation (ThFFF) offer solvent flexibility and tunable separation, while multi-detector approaches enable simultaneous acquisition of molar mass, size, branching, and chemical composition from a single injection. Such strategies reduce solvent use, minimize waste, and enhance efficiency, aligning lignin analytics with green chemistry principles. By integrating sustainable methodologies with robust analytical workflows, lignin characterization can advance beyond methodological challenges and contribute meaningfully to a circular, carbon-based economy.
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Publisher
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American Chemical Society
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Wikidata
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Citation
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ACS Sustainable Resource Management 3 (2026) 316-334
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DOI
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https://doi.org/10.1021/acssusresmgt.5c00501
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Tags
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