Wet-Spun Supramolecular Lignin/Alginate Fibers from Agricultural Residues

Wet-Spun Supramolecular Lignin/Alginate Fibers from Agricultural Residues | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Wet-Spun Supramolecular Lignin/Alginate Fibers from Agricultural Residues Dorota Szlek, Nara Han, Isabel Schorn, Jennifer Gerber, Chang Geun Yoo, and 1 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-6856979/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 5 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Purpose This is the 1st study to explore the development of fully biobased lignin/alginate fibers using lignin extracted from corn stover via the CELF process. It examines how lignin molecular weight and concentration affect fiber properties for sustainable material applications. Methods Low (LCSL) and high (HCSL) molecular weight lignin fractions were blended with sodium alginate and glycerol to form spinning dopes. Fibers were produced via water-based wet-spinning, air-dried, and water-washed. Characterization included NMR, GPC, FTIR, TGA, and assessments of rheological, mechanical, morphological, and antioxidant properties. Results Water washing removed glycerol and yielded lignin-rich fibers (46–86 wt%) with distinct characteristics. LCSL-based fibers showed higher antioxidant activity, smoother morphology, stronger hydrogen bonding and vanillin release. HCSL-based fibers exhibited greater thermal stability. Higher lignin content increased fiber diameter and roundness but reduced tensile strength due to the plasticizing effect of lignin. FTIR and TGA confirmed a supramolecular network formed via hydrogen and ionic bonding. Conclusion These lignin/alginate fibers offer a solvent-free, sustainable alternative for wound care, food packaging, and geotextiles. The inherent functionality of lignin imparts thermal and water stability, and antioxidant performance without the need for additional toxic finishing, and supramolecular structure of lignin/alginate allows for tunability in future applications. Statement of Novelty This study presents a sustainable method to create functional biobased fibers from lignin derived from corn stover, using a water-based wet-spinning process. While lignin/alginate have been synthesized in the form of films and hydrogels previously, this study reports the first successful wet-spun functional lignin/alginate fibers, which possess inherent and durable antioxidant activity, thermal and water stability, strong hydrogen bonding and vanillin release - without synthetic additives or harmful solvents. Additionally, fiber performance can be controlled by adjusting lignin fraction and concentration and the supramolecular structure of the fibers offer tunability. This work advances green materials science by transforming low-value agricultural residues into high-value, biodegradable fibers suitable for wound care, food packaging, e- textiles, and geotextiles, supporting a circular bioeconomy. corn stover CELF lignin alginate fibers wet-spinning Full Text Supplementary Files SzlekSupportingWetSpunSupramolecularLigninAlginate.docx Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Reviewers agreed at journal 22 Aug, 2025 Reviewers invited by journal 21 Aug, 2025 Editor invited by journal 29 Jun, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 11 Jun, 2025 First submitted to journal 09 Jun, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-6856979","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":503755677,"identity":"055810cf-1aec-4191-bb5f-27de8862de87","order_by":0,"name":"Dorota Szlek","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAAxElEQVRIiWNgGAWjYDCCA8wHH3yoADMZDzwAEg2EtbAlG844A2UnEKeFx0yYt40ULXznz5gx886zkzOf3XwAqMVGdsMBAlokb6SVPZy7LdlY5s6xBKCWNGOCWgxuMG83eLvtQOIMiRwDoJbDiYS1nD9gJsE7B6Ql/wNQy38itBxIMZPkbQDbAvL+AcJagH4BBvKxZGMJiTSgwwySjWcS0sJ3/jAwKmvs5CQkkh8C49ROto+QFnR3kqZ8FIyCUTAKRgEOAAD1/02IrOzR4wAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9393-3154","institution":"Cornell University","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Dorota","middleName":"","lastName":"Szlek","suffix":""},{"id":503755678,"identity":"f59d0a97-9032-4a21-ba61-24926f042230","order_by":1,"name":"Nara Han","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"SUNY-ESF: SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Nara","middleName":"","lastName":"Han","suffix":""},{"id":503755679,"identity":"7b9d34fa-2888-498b-9c50-7b06c69ed614","order_by":2,"name":"Isabel Schorn","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Cornell University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Isabel","middleName":"","lastName":"Schorn","suffix":""},{"id":503755680,"identity":"65cdbd58-2db0-40c7-a34e-80eaac0c21dc","order_by":3,"name":"Jennifer Gerber","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Georgia Institute of Technology","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Jennifer","middleName":"","lastName":"Gerber","suffix":""},{"id":503755681,"identity":"b8e06ea5-6b50-4079-8c04-e81fab310968","order_by":4,"name":"Chang Geun Yoo","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"SUNY-ESF: SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Chang","middleName":"Geun","lastName":"Yoo","suffix":""},{"id":503755682,"identity":"83220f9a-a81a-4fb7-8167-e919699b5a03","order_by":5,"name":"Margaret W. 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Higher lignin content increased fiber diameter and roundness but reduced tensile strength due to the plasticizing effect of lignin. FTIR and TGA confirmed a supramolecular network formed via hydrogen and ionic bonding.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConclusion\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese lignin/alginate fibers offer a solvent-free, sustainable alternative for wound care, food packaging, and geotextiles. The inherent functionality of lignin imparts thermal and water stability, and antioxidant performance without the need for additional toxic finishing, and supramolecular structure of lignin/alginate allows for tunability in future applications.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStatement of Novelty\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis study presents a sustainable method to create functional biobased fibers from lignin derived from corn stover, using a water-based wet-spinning process. 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