Solution properties of cellulose (Algal), xylan, and lignin

Cellulose derived from a kind of algae, Spirogyra sp., was found to have cellulose Iα rich structure by the structural analysis using FT-IR and solid state NMR measurements. The cellulose from the algae was hard to dissolve in the typical cellulose solvent, LiCl/amide system. However, a new technique to promote the dissolution was developed including ethylenediamine treatment, which can dissolve the cellulose from the algae in LiCl/amide solvent within two days. The solution of xylan showed a Newtonian flow in the frequency range of this experiment. Contrary to the previous work that dealt with xylan-added cellulose suspension, the xylan addition did not lower the viscosity of the cellulose solution. From the viscosity measurement of various lignin solutions, it was indicated that the molecular weights of the lignins, even of milled wood lignin, were considerably lowered. Concentration dependence of specific viscosity for various lignin solutions showed that the solution properties of the milled wood lignin and the commercial lignins are almost the same.