Gamma irradiation-enhanced antioxidant properties of soda lignin isolated from bioethanol-derived black liquor
摘要
Lignin, an abundant biopolymer in lignocellulosic biomass, possesses intrinsic antioxidant properties. In this study, lignin was isolated from black liquor, a by-product of second-generation bioethanol production, via acid precipitation and irradiated with gamma rays at 25, 50, and 75 kGy, using the dose rate of 3 kGy per hour. Structural and functional changes were examined, including free radical content, functional groups, degradation products, thermal stability, and antioxidant activity. Gamma irradiation induced partial depolymerization, increased radical species and oxygenated groups, and reduced thermal stability. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays revealed dose-dependent IC50 values, with the highest antioxidant enhancement at 75 kGy, classified as moderate by the antioxidant activity index.