Lignin decolorization in organic solvents and their application in natural sunscreen

Chen Wu; Yumeng Yang; Kaiqi Sun; Dan Luo; Xiuyu Liu; Huining Xiao; Huiyang Bian; Hongqi Dai

doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.124081

Lignin decolorization in organic solvents and their application in natural sunscreen

Int J Biol Macromol. 2023 May 15:237:124081. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.124081. Epub 2023 Mar 20.

Authors

Chen Wu¹, Yumeng Yang¹, Kaiqi Sun¹, Dan Luo¹, Xiuyu Liu², Huining Xiao³, Huiyang Bian⁴, Hongqi Dai⁵

Affiliations

¹ Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China; International Innovation Center for Forest Chemicals and Materials, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China.
² Key Laboratory of Chemistry and Engineering of Forest Products, State Ethnic Affairs Commission, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Chemistry and Engineering of Forest Products, Guangxi Minzu University, Nanning 530006, China.
³ Department of Chemical Engineering, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick E3B 5A3, Canada.
⁴ Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China; International Innovation Center for Forest Chemicals and Materials, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China. Electronic address: hybian1992@njfu.edu.cn.
⁵ Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China; International Innovation Center for Forest Chemicals and Materials, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China. Electronic address: hgdhq@njfu.edu.cn.

PMID: 36934814
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.124081

Abstract

In order to improve the utilization of industrial lignin as an effective component for ultraviolet (UV) shielding, organic solvent (methanol, ethanol, and acetone) fractionation was applied to improve its UV absorption performance and reduce its apparent color. Physicochemical properties of lignin and lignin-based sunscreens, such as molar mass fraction, functional group content, color change and UV shielding properties, were characterized in detail by GPC, UV spectroscopy, ³¹P NMR and HSQC-NMR spectroscopy. The results showed that the color and UV-shielding properties of the soluble fraction were significantly superior to those of the original and insoluble fractions. Different lignin fractions were acted as the only active substance in the pure cream and its UV-shielding properties were compared. Among them, the composite sunscreen by adding 5 wt% acetone fractionated lignin had highest sun protection factor (SPF) value of 6.6, approximately 4.5 times higher than those sunscreens mixed with pristine lignin. Overall, this work offers the potential of industrial lignin in value-added applications such as UV protection and cosmetics.

Keywords: Decolorization; Lignin; Organic solvent; Sunscreen formulation; Ultraviolet absorption.

MeSH terms

Acetone
Lignin* / chemistry
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
Solvents / chemistry
Sunscreening Agents* / chemistry
Ultraviolet Rays

Substances

Sunscreening Agents
Lignin
Acetone
Solvents