title: Structural characterization and antioxidant activity evaluation of lignins from rice husk.
abstract: In recent years, lignin and extractives from herbaceous plants and crops are receiving increasing attention for their renewability and large annual biomass stock. It is worth noting that only a few studies deal with the chemical characterization of rice husk, a side product of one of the most important crops with regard to human nutrition. Thus, in this study lignin from rice husk was isolated and characterized. Two different extraction procedures were optimized and tested: acidolysis and alkaline enzymatic (AE). The different lignins isolated were fully characterized by means of gravimetric, chromatographic (GPC), and spectroscopic (31P NMR, 2D-HSQC-NMR) analyses with the aim to compare yields, sample purity, and chemical properties, recognized as key parameters for future development. Notwithstanding the extraction procedure, the results highlighted that rice husk lignin is mainly formed by guaiacyl and p-hydroxyphenyl units. The acidolytic approach showed an appreciable lignin recovery and high purity, whereas the AE lignin sample was found to be rich in residual polysaccharides and oxidized functionalities. Moreover, different rice husk extracts, along with acidolysis lignin and AE lignin specimens, were assayed for their antioxidant activity by means of a DPPH radical scavenging test.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Earth Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 1, Milan, I-20126 Italy.
authors.forename: Anika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salanti
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zoia
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Orlandi
authors.forename: Fabiana
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zanini
authors.forename: Graziano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Elegir
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005525:Food-Processing Industry / Q000191:economics; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007220:Industrial Waste / Q000032:analysis* / Q000191:economics; D008031:Lignin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012275:Oryza / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D007220:Industrial Waste; D008031:Lignin