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Lignosulfonate and lignosulfonate hydrolyzed under alkaline conditions were used as the polyol components in polyurethane foam formulations. Although the treatment increased hydroxyl group abundance, it did not improve the applicability of hydrolyzed lignosulfonate in polyurethane foam. Thus, the use of original lignosulfonate yielded foams of thermal stability and mechanical properties comparable to other types of biobased foams (Young's moduli 0.95 to 4.42 MPa, 50% weight loss, and temperature ca. 500 °C). Lignosulfonates can be a renewable polyol component for the formulation of rigid, semi-rigid, and flexible foams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Woody (Albizia pedicellaris and Terminalia ivorensis) and non-woody (guinea corn (Sorghum bicolor)) glume and stalk biomass resources from Nigeria were subjected to thermo-analytical and physico-chemical analyses to determine their suitability for thermochemical processing. They were found to have comparably high calorific values (between 16.4 and 20.1 MJ kg-1). The woody biomass had very low ash content (0.32%), while the non-woody biomass had relatively high ash content (7.54%). Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of the test samples showed significant variation in the decomposition behavior of the individual biomasses. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) of fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) derivatives indicated the presence of fatty and resin acids in the dichloromethane (CH2Cl2) extracts. Analytical pyrolysis (Py-GC/MS) of the samples revealed that the volatiles liberated consisted mostly of acids, alcohols, ketones, phenols, and sugar derivatives. These biomass types were deemed suitable for biofuel applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]