A translatable IR-chemometrics model for the rapid prediction of structural and material properties of technical lignins

Technical lignins are an industrial byproduct of plant biomass processing, for example, paper production or biorefinery operations. They are highly functional and aromatic, making them potentially suitable for a diverse range of applications; however, their exact structural composition depends on th...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nature protocols Vol. 20; no. 9; p. 2504
Main Authors: Riddell, Luke A, de Peinder, Peter, Lindner, Jean-Pierre B, Meirer, Florian, Bruijnincx, Pieter C A
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: England 01.09.2025
Subjects:
ISSN:1750-2799, 1750-2799
Online Access:Get more information
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Abstract Technical lignins are an industrial byproduct of plant biomass processing, for example, paper production or biorefinery operations. They are highly functional and aromatic, making them potentially suitable for a diverse range of applications; however, their exact structural composition depends on the plant species and the industrial process involved. A major bottleneck to lignin valorization and to biorefining in general is the equipment and time investment required for the full characterization of each sample. An array of wet chemical, spectroscopic, chromatographic and thermal methods are typically required to effectively characterize a given lignin sample. To ease the analytical burden, measured lignin properties can be correlated with detailed spectroscopic data obtained from a rapid analytical technique, such as attenuated total reflectance (ATR) Fourier-transform infrared (IR) spectroscopy, which requires minimal sample preparation. With sufficient sensitivity of the spectroscopic data, partial least squares regression models can be calibrated and, thus, predict these properties for future samples for which only the ATR-IR spectra are recorded. So far, several structural and macromolecular properties of lignin have been correlated with ATR-IR spectral data and quantitatively predicted in such a manner, including molecular weight, hydroxyl group content ([OH]), interunit linkage abundance and glass transition temperature. The protocol to apply this powerful lignin characterization methodology is described herein. Here, we also present a simple calibration transfer step, which when implemented before partial least squares regression, addresses the problem of instrument dependency. With the calibrated model, it is possible to determine lignin properties from a single ATR-IR spectral measurement (in ~5 min per sample).
AbstractList Technical lignins are an industrial byproduct of plant biomass processing, for example, paper production or biorefinery operations. They are highly functional and aromatic, making them potentially suitable for a diverse range of applications; however, their exact structural composition depends on the plant species and the industrial process involved. A major bottleneck to lignin valorization and to biorefining in general is the equipment and time investment required for the full characterization of each sample. An array of wet chemical, spectroscopic, chromatographic and thermal methods are typically required to effectively characterize a given lignin sample. To ease the analytical burden, measured lignin properties can be correlated with detailed spectroscopic data obtained from a rapid analytical technique, such as attenuated total reflectance (ATR) Fourier-transform infrared (IR) spectroscopy, which requires minimal sample preparation. With sufficient sensitivity of the spectroscopic data, partial least squares regression models can be calibrated and, thus, predict these properties for future samples for which only the ATR-IR spectra are recorded. So far, several structural and macromolecular properties of lignin have been correlated with ATR-IR spectral data and quantitatively predicted in such a manner, including molecular weight, hydroxyl group content ([OH]), interunit linkage abundance and glass transition temperature. The protocol to apply this powerful lignin characterization methodology is described herein. Here, we also present a simple calibration transfer step, which when implemented before partial least squares regression, addresses the problem of instrument dependency. With the calibrated model, it is possible to determine lignin properties from a single ATR-IR spectral measurement (in ~5 min per sample).
Technical lignins are an industrial byproduct of plant biomass processing, for example, paper production or biorefinery operations. They are highly functional and aromatic, making them potentially suitable for a diverse range of applications; however, their exact structural composition depends on the plant species and the industrial process involved. A major bottleneck to lignin valorization and to biorefining in general is the equipment and time investment required for the full characterization of each sample. An array of wet chemical, spectroscopic, chromatographic and thermal methods are typically required to effectively characterize a given lignin sample. To ease the analytical burden, measured lignin properties can be correlated with detailed spectroscopic data obtained from a rapid analytical technique, such as attenuated total reflectance (ATR) Fourier-transform infrared (IR) spectroscopy, which requires minimal sample preparation. With sufficient sensitivity of the spectroscopic data, partial least squares regression models can be calibrated and, thus, predict these properties for future samples for which only the ATR-IR spectra are recorded. So far, several structural and macromolecular properties of lignin have been correlated with ATR-IR spectral data and quantitatively predicted in such a manner, including molecular weight, hydroxyl group content ([OH]), interunit linkage abundance and glass transition temperature. The protocol to apply this powerful lignin characterization methodology is described herein. Here, we also present a simple calibration transfer step, which when implemented before partial least squares regression, addresses the problem of instrument dependency. With the calibrated model, it is possible to determine lignin properties from a single ATR-IR spectral measurement (in ~5 min per sample).Technical lignins are an industrial byproduct of plant biomass processing, for example, paper production or biorefinery operations. They are highly functional and aromatic, making them potentially suitable for a diverse range of applications; however, their exact structural composition depends on the plant species and the industrial process involved. A major bottleneck to lignin valorization and to biorefining in general is the equipment and time investment required for the full characterization of each sample. An array of wet chemical, spectroscopic, chromatographic and thermal methods are typically required to effectively characterize a given lignin sample. To ease the analytical burden, measured lignin properties can be correlated with detailed spectroscopic data obtained from a rapid analytical technique, such as attenuated total reflectance (ATR) Fourier-transform infrared (IR) spectroscopy, which requires minimal sample preparation. With sufficient sensitivity of the spectroscopic data, partial least squares regression models can be calibrated and, thus, predict these properties for future samples for which only the ATR-IR spectra are recorded. So far, several structural and macromolecular properties of lignin have been correlated with ATR-IR spectral data and quantitatively predicted in such a manner, including molecular weight, hydroxyl group content ([OH]), interunit linkage abundance and glass transition temperature. The protocol to apply this powerful lignin characterization methodology is described herein. Here, we also present a simple calibration transfer step, which when implemented before partial least squares regression, addresses the problem of instrument dependency. With the calibrated model, it is possible to determine lignin properties from a single ATR-IR spectral measurement (in ~5 min per sample).
Author Riddell, Luke A
de Peinder, Peter
Lindner, Jean-Pierre B
Bruijnincx, Pieter C A
Meirer, Florian
Author_xml – sequence: 1
  givenname: Luke A
  surname: Riddell
  fullname: Riddell, Luke A
  organization: Utrecht University, Organic Chemistry and Catalysis, Institute for Sustainable and Circular Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Utrecht, the Netherlands
– sequence: 2
  givenname: Peter
  surname: de Peinder
  fullname: de Peinder, Peter
  organization: VibSpec, Tiel, the Netherlands
– sequence: 3
  givenname: Jean-Pierre B
  surname: Lindner
  fullname: Lindner, Jean-Pierre B
  organization: BASF SE Group Research, Ludwighafen am Rhein, Germany
– sequence: 4
  givenname: Florian
  surname: Meirer
  fullname: Meirer, Florian
  email: f.meirer@uu.nl
  organization: Utrecht University, Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis, Institute for Sustainable and Circular Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Utrecht, the Netherlands. f.meirer@uu.nl
– sequence: 5
  givenname: Pieter C A
  orcidid: 0000-0001-8134-0530
  surname: Bruijnincx
  fullname: Bruijnincx, Pieter C A
  email: p.c.a.bruijnincx@uu.nl
  organization: Utrecht University, Organic Chemistry and Catalysis, Institute for Sustainable and Circular Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Utrecht, the Netherlands. p.c.a.bruijnincx@uu.nl
BackLink https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/40075188$$D View this record in MEDLINE/PubMed
BookMark eNpNkEtLxDAUhYOMOA_9Ay4kSzfRJG2aZDkMPgYGBNF1SdNbJ5KmNUlB_70jjuDqnHv4OFzOEs3CEAChS0ZvGC3UbSqZ0BWhXBDKWKGJPEELJgUlXGo9--fnaJnSO6WlLCp5huYlpVIwpRboc41zNCF5k03jAW-fid1DP_SQo7MJ90MLHndDxHkPOJrRtXiM0Dqb3RDw0OGU42TzFI3HJrS4NxmiOxxjHEaI2UH6oTLYfXD2kHv3FlxI5-i0Mz7BxVFX6PX-7mXzSHZPD9vNekdsIWUmjeSGStNSK6XmlDMmjBDWQGmt6kTZmLJTsmm04pXlSmgtQUJLme50oVXJV-j6t_fwz8cEKde9Sxa8NwGGKdUFk1WlOK9-0KsjOjU9tPUYXW_iV_23Fv8GJUVwIQ
CitedBy_id crossref_primary_10_1016_j_nxmate_2025_101136
ContentType Journal Article
Copyright 2025. Springer Nature Limited.
Copyright_xml – notice: 2025. Springer Nature Limited.
DBID CGR
CUY
CVF
ECM
EIF
NPM
7X8
DOI 10.1038/s41596-025-01139-7
DatabaseName Medline
MEDLINE
MEDLINE (Ovid)
MEDLINE
MEDLINE
PubMed
MEDLINE - Academic
DatabaseTitle MEDLINE
Medline Complete
MEDLINE with Full Text
PubMed
MEDLINE (Ovid)
MEDLINE - Academic
DatabaseTitleList MEDLINE
MEDLINE - Academic
Database_xml – sequence: 1
  dbid: NPM
  name: PubMed
  url: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed
  sourceTypes: Index Database
– sequence: 2
  dbid: 7X8
  name: MEDLINE - Academic
  url: https://search.proquest.com/medline
  sourceTypes: Aggregation Database
DeliveryMethod no_fulltext_linktorsrc
Discipline Biology
EISSN 1750-2799
ExternalDocumentID 40075188
Genre Journal Article
Review
GroupedDBID ---
0R~
123
29M
39C
3TQ
4.4
53G
5M7
70F
7X7
7XC
88E
8FE
8FH
8FI
8FJ
AARCD
AAWYQ
AAYZH
ABAWZ
ABJNI
ABLJU
ABUWG
ACGFO
ACGFS
ACMJI
ACPRK
ADBBV
ADFRT
AENEX
AEUYN
AFANA
AFBBN
AFKRA
AFRAH
AFSHS
AGAYW
AHBCP
AHMBA
AHSBF
AIBTJ
ALFFA
ALMA_UNASSIGNED_HOLDINGS
AMTXH
ARMCB
ASPBG
ATCPS
ATHPR
ATWCN
AVWKF
AXYYD
AZFZN
BBNVY
BENPR
BHPHI
BKKNO
BPHCQ
BVXVI
CAG
CCPQU
CGR
COF
CUY
CVF
DB5
DU5
EBS
ECM
EE.
EIF
EJD
EMOBN
F5P
FEDTE
FSGXE
FYUFA
FZEXT
HCIFZ
HMCUK
HVGLF
HZ~
IAO
IGS
IHR
INH
INR
ISR
ITC
LGEZI
LK8
LOTEE
M1P
M7P
NADUK
NFIDA
NNMJJ
NPM
NXXTH
O9-
ODYON
P2P
PATMY
PHGZM
PHGZT
PJZUB
PPXIY
PQGLB
PQQKQ
PROAC
PSQYO
PUEGO
PYCSY
RNT
RNTTT
SHXYY
SIXXV
SNYQT
SOJ
SV3
TAOOD
TBHMF
TDRGL
TSG
UKHRP
7X8
AGSTI
ID FETCH-LOGICAL-c377t-b72a07ad0c779202115a55cae4cc8f54ba4f87bb9826c285997e7ed019f939842
IEDL.DBID 7X8
ISICitedReferencesCount 2
ISICitedReferencesURI http://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=Summon&SrcAuth=ProQuest&DestLinkType=CitingArticles&DestApp=WOS_CPL&KeyUT=001443022100001&url=https%3A%2F%2Fcvtisr.summon.serialssolutions.com%2F%23%21%2Fsearch%3Fho%3Df%26include.ft.matches%3Dt%26l%3Dnull%26q%3D
ISSN 1750-2799
IngestDate Sat Nov 01 15:07:24 EDT 2025
Tue Sep 09 02:30:23 EDT 2025
IsPeerReviewed true
IsScholarly true
Issue 9
Language English
License 2025. Springer Nature Limited.
LinkModel DirectLink
MergedId FETCHMERGED-LOGICAL-c377t-b72a07ad0c779202115a55cae4cc8f54ba4f87bb9826c285997e7ed019f939842
Notes ObjectType-Article-1
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-2
ObjectType-Review-3
content type line 23
ORCID 0000-0001-8134-0530
PMID 40075188
PQID 3176682264
PQPubID 23479
ParticipantIDs proquest_miscellaneous_3176682264
pubmed_primary_40075188
PublicationCentury 2000
PublicationDate 2025-09-01
PublicationDateYYYYMMDD 2025-09-01
PublicationDate_xml – month: 09
  year: 2025
  text: 2025-09-01
  day: 01
PublicationDecade 2020
PublicationPlace England
PublicationPlace_xml – name: England
PublicationTitle Nature protocols
PublicationTitleAlternate Nat Protoc
PublicationYear 2025
SSID ssj0047367
Score 2.4934893
SecondaryResourceType review_article
Snippet Technical lignins are an industrial byproduct of plant biomass processing, for example, paper production or biorefinery operations. They are highly functional...
SourceID proquest
pubmed
SourceType Aggregation Database
Index Database
StartPage 2504
SubjectTerms Chemometrics - methods
Least-Squares Analysis
Lignin - chemistry
Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared - methods
Title A translatable IR-chemometrics model for the rapid prediction of structural and material properties of technical lignins
URI https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/40075188
https://www.proquest.com/docview/3176682264
Volume 20
WOSCitedRecordID wos001443022100001&url=https%3A%2F%2Fcvtisr.summon.serialssolutions.com%2F%23%21%2Fsearch%3Fho%3Df%26include.ft.matches%3Dt%26l%3Dnull%26q%3D
hasFullText
inHoldings 1
isFullTextHit
isPrint
link http://cvtisr.summon.serialssolutions.com/2.0.0/link/0/eLvHCXMwpV1bS8MwFA7qFHzxfpk3Ivga1ku6JE8yxKGgY4jK3kqapjLY2rpO0X_vOWmnT4JgH_qUQMk5zfna8-X7CLlIYd9PkwxpFV2PcWE5kxaJazbTgc91aFzH9PlODAZyNFLD5odb1dAqF3ui26jTwuA_8k6ISoYSj31elq8MXaOwu9pYaCyTVghQBrNajL67CFyEzkEWKqTHAqFUc2jGC2WngsLl6LdIXYOpTPwOMV2p6W_-9yG3yEYDMmmvzoptsmTzHbJW205-7pKPHp1jiZroOR6corcPDEI3LabormUq6txxKKBZCuiQznQ5Tmk5w44ORpEWGa1VZ1Gxg-o8pYB6XSLDqKJEoratcFStDwtJQCfjl3ycV3vkqX_9eHXDGgcGZkIh5iwRgfaETj0jhAoADviRjiKjLTdGZhFPNM-kSBIFHykGpfCUsMKmABszFSrJg32ykhe5PSRU2gwuKwOhoXCmOvH9ruSJF9goiZQ1bXK-WNIYMhzbFjq3xVsV_yxqmxzUcYnLWoojRld3lJQ7-sPsY7IeuHgjQeyEtDJ4v-0pWTXv83E1O3OpA_fB8P4LeXrPXw
linkProvider ProQuest
openUrl ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&ctx_enc=info%3Aofi%2Fenc%3AUTF-8&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fsummon.serialssolutions.com&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=A+translatable+IR-chemometrics+model+for+the+rapid+prediction+of+structural+and+material+properties+of+technical+lignins&rft.jtitle=Nature+protocols&rft.au=Riddell%2C+Luke+A&rft.au=de+Peinder%2C+Peter&rft.au=Lindner%2C+Jean-Pierre+B&rft.au=Meirer%2C+Florian&rft.date=2025-09-01&rft.eissn=1750-2799&rft.volume=20&rft.issue=9&rft.spage=2504&rft_id=info:doi/10.1038%2Fs41596-025-01139-7&rft_id=info%3Apmid%2F40075188&rft_id=info%3Apmid%2F40075188&rft.externalDocID=40075188
thumbnail_l http://covers-cdn.summon.serialssolutions.com/index.aspx?isbn=/lc.gif&issn=1750-2799&client=summon
thumbnail_m http://covers-cdn.summon.serialssolutions.com/index.aspx?isbn=/mc.gif&issn=1750-2799&client=summon
thumbnail_s http://covers-cdn.summon.serialssolutions.com/index.aspx?isbn=/sc.gif&issn=1750-2799&client=summon