Fabrication and characterization of low cost electro-spun carbon fibers from organosolv bagasse lignin: effect of modification conditions

Abstract

Sugarcane bagasse is an agro-residues product of the sugarcane industry and owing to its plentiful accessibility; it has broadly studied for lignocellulosic conversion to the production of value-added commercial products. In this context, organosolv delignification of bagasse was executed employing acetic and formic acid along with dilute H2SO4 as a promoter at 100 degrees C. Organosolv bagasse lignin (OBL) blended with renewable resource-based cellulose acetate (CA) at different ratios. Electrospinning technique has been issued for fabricating lignin nanofibers. Iodine treatment of nanofibers was inspected to assist the thermostabilization handling. The nanofibers were successfully converted into carbon fibers (CFs) through oxidative thermal stabilization in the air at 220 degrees C and subsequently carbonized at 600 degrees C. The investigated samples were identified with scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared analysis, thermal gravimetric analysis, and N-2 (77 K) adsorption. Tensile properties (stress, strain, young's modulus) of electrospun nanofibers were greatly ameliorated via deposition of polyaniline (m-toluidine) through the formation of (OBL/CA/P-mTol) composite via in-situ oxidative chemical polymerization technique. This study extends the potential applicability of composite for water purification and stipulates a promising approach to MB dye removal of aqueous solutions.