Effects of Drying on the Properties and Applications of Alkaline Corn Cob Lignin
- 1Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN) , , , ,
- 2Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE) , , , ,
- 3State University of Maringá (UEM) , , , ,
Abstract
Lignins are macromolecules obtained from plant biomass with great potential for high-value industrial applications. However, gaps remain regarding how lignin processing, particularly drying, affects its valorization. This study investigated how different drying techniques affect the physicochemical and biological properties of corn cob lignin, including color, UV-blocking ability, antioxidant activity, antimicrobial potential, and toxicity. Lignin was extracted via alkaline pretreatment, and the suspension was dried using four methods: freeze-drying (L), spouted bed at 60 °C (SB), oven at 60 °C (O60), and oven at 105 °C (O105). UV analysis confirmed that air exposure and temperature increases led to condensation reactions due to the loss of phenolic hydroxyl groups. Interestingly, spouted bed drying preserved the original color and maintained a phenolic hydroxyl content similar to freeze-drying, while exhibiting the highest antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria. Oven-dried lignins (O60 and O105) showed enhanced UV-blocking capabilities and superior in vitro DPPH radical scavenging but displayed lower ABTS inhibition efficiency (∼0.02 mg/mL vs 0.012 mg/mL for L). No correlation was observed between the lignin drying method and the zebrafish survival rate within the studied range (up to 100 mg/L). These findings demonstrate that drying techniques can strategically modulate lignin functional properties, serving as a crucial processing step for developing macromolecular functional products.
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BibTeX
@article{padilha2026effects,
title = {{Effects of Drying on the Properties and Applications of Alkaline Corn Cob Lignin}},
author = {Carlos Eduardo de Araújo Padilha and Jadna Lúcia de Freitas Silva and Francisco Bruno Ferreira de Freitas and Gleyson Batista de Oliveira and Augusto Monteiro de Souza and Darlisson de Alexandria Santos and Thelma Sley Pacheco Cellet and Renata Martins Braga and Emmanuel Damilano Dutra and Jackson Araújo de Oliveira and Domingos Fabiano de Santana Souza},
journal = {ACS Omega},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1021/acsomega.6c06720},
url = {https://pubs.acs.org/acsodf/article/doi/10.1021/acsomega.6c06720/5453235/Effects-of-Drying-on-the-Properties-and},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Effects of Drying on the Properties and Applications of Alkaline Corn Cob Lignin
AU - Carlos Eduardo de Araújo Padilha
AU - Jadna Lúcia de Freitas Silva
AU - Francisco Bruno Ferreira de Freitas
AU - Gleyson Batista de Oliveira
AU - Augusto Monteiro de Souza
AU - Darlisson de Alexandria Santos
AU - Thelma Sley Pacheco Cellet
AU - Renata Martins Braga
AU - Emmanuel Damilano Dutra
AU - Jackson Araújo de Oliveira
AU - Domingos Fabiano de Santana Souza
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/17
JO - ACS Omega
DO - 10.1021/acsomega.6c06720
UR - https://pubs.acs.org/acsodf/article/doi/10.1021/acsomega.6c06720/5453235/Effects-of-Drying-on-the-Properties-and
AB - Lignins are macromolecules obtained from plant biomass with great potential for high-value industrial applications. However, gaps remain regarding how lignin processing, particularly drying, affects its valorization. This study investigated how different drying techniques affect the physicochemical and biological properties of corn cob lignin, including color, UV-blocking ability, antioxidant activity, antimicrobial potential, and toxicity. Lignin was extracted via alkaline pretreatment, and the suspension was dried using four methods: freeze-drying (L), spouted bed at 60 °C (SB), oven at 60 °C (O60), and oven at 105 °C (O105). UV analysis confirmed that air exposure and temperature increases led to condensation reactions due to the loss of phenolic hydroxyl groups. Interestingly, spouted bed drying preserved the original color and maintained a phenolic hydroxyl content similar to freeze-drying, while exhibiting the highest antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria. Oven-dried lignins (O60 and O105) showed enhanced UV-blocking capabilities and superior in vitro DPPH radical scavenging but displayed lower ABTS inhibition efficiency (∼0.02 mg/mL vs 0.012 mg/mL for L). No correlation was observed between the lignin drying method and the zebrafish survival rate within the studied range (up to 100 mg/L). These findings demonstrate that drying techniques can strategically modulate lignin functional properties, serving as a crucial processing step for developing macromolecular functional products.
SN - 2470-1343
ER -