Natural rubber composites incorporating alkali lignin: Property characterization and functional evaluation

Skulrat Pichaiyut; Bunyarit Panyapinyopol; Parinvadee Chukaew; Yuwanda Thongpanich; Fuangfa Utrarachkij; Sanchai Kuboon; Wasawat Kraithong; Pongtanawat Khemthong; Kriangsak Riewklang; Kamonwat Nakason; Wanwitoo Wanmolee

doi:10.1016/j.recm.2025.100126

Natural rubber composites incorporating alkali lignin: Property characterization and functional evaluation

Skulrat Pichaiyut
, Bunyarit Panyapinyopol
, Parinvadee Chukaew
, Yuwanda Thongpanich
, Fuangfa Utrarachkij
, Sanchai Kuboon
, Wasawat Kraithong
, Pongtanawat Khemthong
, Kriangsak Riewklang
, Kamonwat Nakason
, Wanwitoo Wanmolee

Prince of Songkla University
Center of Excellence on Environmental Health and Toxicology (EHT)
Mahidol University
National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA)
King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

7 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Conventional natural rubber (NR) fillers pose several environmental concerns. This study presents the sustainable development of NR composites incorporating sugarcane leaf (SCL)-derived alkali lignin and commercial alkali lignin as functional fillers. The primary objective was to evaluate the mechanical properties, aging resistance, thermal stability, and antimicrobial activity of the NR composites. Various NR composites were prepared by different filler types, including KOH-extracted SCL lignin, commercial alkali lignin, and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). The results show that NR composites containing KOH-extracted SCL lignin exhibited superior mechanical properties (crosslink density 126 mol/m³), improved aging resistance (aging coefficient 80.08 %), and enhanced thermal stability (the thermal degradation with 50 % weight loss (T₅₀) and the highest degradation rate occurs (T_d) of 394 and 383 °C, respectively) compared to all other samples. NR composites with commercial lignin demonstrated the highest reduction in Staphylococcus aureus populations (56.25 %). The NR composites with KOH-extracted SCL lignin displayed limited antimicrobial efficacy (37.78 %), suggesting that its primary contribution lies in mechanical and thermal reinforcement rather than microbial inhibition. These findings highlight the potential of eco-friendly lignin from SCL biomass as a sustainable bio-based filler for NR composites.

Original language	English
Article number	100126
Journal	Resources Chemicals and Materials
Volume	4
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.recm.2025.100126
Publication status	Published - Dec 2025

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth

Keywords

Aging properties
Biomass utilization
Lignin
Natural rubber
Thermal properties

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10.1016/j.recm.2025.100126

Cite this

Pichaiyut, S., Panyapinyopol, B., Chukaew, P., Thongpanich, Y., Utrarachkij, F., Kuboon, S., Kraithong, W., Khemthong, P., Riewklang, K., Nakason, K., & Wanmolee, W. (2025). Natural rubber composites incorporating alkali lignin: Property characterization and functional evaluation. Resources Chemicals and Materials, 4(4), Article 100126. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.recm.2025.100126

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title = "Natural rubber composites incorporating alkali lignin: Property characterization and functional evaluation",

abstract = "Conventional natural rubber (NR) fillers pose several environmental concerns. This study presents the sustainable development of NR composites incorporating sugarcane leaf (SCL)-derived alkali lignin and commercial alkali lignin as functional fillers. The primary objective was to evaluate the mechanical properties, aging resistance, thermal stability, and antimicrobial activity of the NR composites. Various NR composites were prepared by different filler types, including KOH-extracted SCL lignin, commercial alkali lignin, and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). The results show that NR composites containing KOH-extracted SCL lignin exhibited superior mechanical properties (crosslink density 126 mol/m3), improved aging resistance (aging coefficient 80.08 \%), and enhanced thermal stability (the thermal degradation with 50 \% weight loss (T50) and the highest degradation rate occurs (Td) of 394 and 383 °C, respectively) compared to all other samples. NR composites with commercial lignin demonstrated the highest reduction in Staphylococcus aureus populations (56.25 \%). The NR composites with KOH-extracted SCL lignin displayed limited antimicrobial efficacy (37.78 \%), suggesting that its primary contribution lies in mechanical and thermal reinforcement rather than microbial inhibition. These findings highlight the potential of eco-friendly lignin from SCL biomass as a sustainable bio-based filler for NR composites.",

keywords = "Aging properties, Biomass utilization, Lignin, Natural rubber, Thermal properties",

author = "Skulrat Pichaiyut and Bunyarit Panyapinyopol and Parinvadee Chukaew and Yuwanda Thongpanich and Fuangfa Utrarachkij and Sanchai Kuboon and Wasawat Kraithong and Pongtanawat Khemthong and Kriangsak Riewklang and Kamonwat Nakason and Wanwitoo Wanmolee",

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doi = "10.1016/j.recm.2025.100126",

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volume = "4",

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Pichaiyut, S, Panyapinyopol, B, Chukaew, P, Thongpanich, Y, Utrarachkij, F, Kuboon, S, Kraithong, W, Khemthong, P, Riewklang, K, Nakason, K & Wanmolee, W 2025, 'Natural rubber composites incorporating alkali lignin: Property characterization and functional evaluation', Resources Chemicals and Materials, vol. 4, no. 4, 100126. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.recm.2025.100126

TY - JOUR

T1 - Natural rubber composites incorporating alkali lignin

T2 - Property characterization and functional evaluation

AU - Pichaiyut, Skulrat

AU - Panyapinyopol, Bunyarit

AU - Chukaew, Parinvadee

AU - Thongpanich, Yuwanda

AU - Utrarachkij, Fuangfa

AU - Kuboon, Sanchai

AU - Kraithong, Wasawat

AU - Khemthong, Pongtanawat

AU - Riewklang, Kriangsak

AU - Nakason, Kamonwat

AU - Wanmolee, Wanwitoo

PY - 2025/12

Y1 - 2025/12

N2 - Conventional natural rubber (NR) fillers pose several environmental concerns. This study presents the sustainable development of NR composites incorporating sugarcane leaf (SCL)-derived alkali lignin and commercial alkali lignin as functional fillers. The primary objective was to evaluate the mechanical properties, aging resistance, thermal stability, and antimicrobial activity of the NR composites. Various NR composites were prepared by different filler types, including KOH-extracted SCL lignin, commercial alkali lignin, and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). The results show that NR composites containing KOH-extracted SCL lignin exhibited superior mechanical properties (crosslink density 126 mol/m3), improved aging resistance (aging coefficient 80.08 %), and enhanced thermal stability (the thermal degradation with 50 % weight loss (T50) and the highest degradation rate occurs (Td) of 394 and 383 °C, respectively) compared to all other samples. NR composites with commercial lignin demonstrated the highest reduction in Staphylococcus aureus populations (56.25 %). The NR composites with KOH-extracted SCL lignin displayed limited antimicrobial efficacy (37.78 %), suggesting that its primary contribution lies in mechanical and thermal reinforcement rather than microbial inhibition. These findings highlight the potential of eco-friendly lignin from SCL biomass as a sustainable bio-based filler for NR composites.

AB - Conventional natural rubber (NR) fillers pose several environmental concerns. This study presents the sustainable development of NR composites incorporating sugarcane leaf (SCL)-derived alkali lignin and commercial alkali lignin as functional fillers. The primary objective was to evaluate the mechanical properties, aging resistance, thermal stability, and antimicrobial activity of the NR composites. Various NR composites were prepared by different filler types, including KOH-extracted SCL lignin, commercial alkali lignin, and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). The results show that NR composites containing KOH-extracted SCL lignin exhibited superior mechanical properties (crosslink density 126 mol/m3), improved aging resistance (aging coefficient 80.08 %), and enhanced thermal stability (the thermal degradation with 50 % weight loss (T50) and the highest degradation rate occurs (Td) of 394 and 383 °C, respectively) compared to all other samples. NR composites with commercial lignin demonstrated the highest reduction in Staphylococcus aureus populations (56.25 %). The NR composites with KOH-extracted SCL lignin displayed limited antimicrobial efficacy (37.78 %), suggesting that its primary contribution lies in mechanical and thermal reinforcement rather than microbial inhibition. These findings highlight the potential of eco-friendly lignin from SCL biomass as a sustainable bio-based filler for NR composites.

KW - Aging properties

KW - Biomass utilization

KW - Lignin

KW - Natural rubber

KW - Thermal properties

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105011588936

U2 - 10.1016/j.recm.2025.100126

DO - 10.1016/j.recm.2025.100126

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:105011588936

SN - 2772-4433

VL - 4

JO - Resources Chemicals and Materials

JF - Resources Chemicals and Materials

IS - 4

M1 - 100126

ER -

Natural rubber composites incorporating alkali lignin: Property characterization and functional evaluation

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

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