Electron Beam Effects on Lignin Stabilization during Carbonization

Lignin can be a valuable natural chemical resource. Structurally, lignin is a three-dimensional polymer made up of condensed C-C bonds and some ether linkages, most of which are not readily degraded. In this study, lignin carbonization under various electron beam pretreatment conditions was characterized through a thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy. Lignin stabilization was controlled by various doses of electron beam irradiation corresponding to 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1,000 kGy; the carbonization process was performed under a nitrogen gas atmosphere at $1000^{\circ}C$ for 1 h. The TGA results showed that a 1,000 kGy lignin dose increased the residue weight from 39.96% to 45.23%, compared to non-irradiated lignin. This observation is in agreement with the XRD and Raman spectroscopy results, in which the two theta degrees and the degree of crystallization were improved by increasing the electron beam irradiation.