Valorization of an industrial organosolv–sugarcane bagasse lignin: Characterization and use as a matrix in biobased composites reinforced with sisal fibers

In the present study, the main focus was the characterization and application of the by‐product lignin isolated through an industrial organosolv acid hydrolysis process from sugarcane bagasse, aiming at the production of bioethanol. The sugarcane lignin was characterized and used to prepare phenolic‐type resins. The analysis confirmed that the industrial sugarcane lignin is of HGS type, with a high proportion of the less substituted aromatic ring p‐hydroxyphenyl units, which favors further reaction with formaldehyde. The lignin–formaldehyde resins were used to produce biobased composites reinforced with different proportions of randomly distributed sisal fibers. The presence of lignin moieties in both the fiber and matrix increases their mutual affinity, as confirmed by SEM images, which showed good adhesion at the biocomposite fiber/matrix interface. This in turn allowed good load transference from the matrix to the fiber, leading to biobased composites with good impact strength (near 500 J m^?1 for a 40 wt% sisal fiber‐reinforced composite). The study demonstrates that sugarcane bagasse lignin obtained from a bioethanol plant can be used without excessive purification in the preparation of lignocellulosic fiber‐reinforced biobased composites displaying high mechanical properties. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2010;107:612–621. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.