Fractionation and evaluation of light-colored lignin extracted from bamboo shoot shells using hydrated deep eutectic solvents

In this study, light-colored lignin was extracted from bamboo shoot shells (BSS) using a hydrated deep eutectic solvent (DES) pretreatment. The hydrated DES used in pretreatment consist of formic acid, benzyl triethylammonium chloride (BTEAC) and water. The pretreatment using a hydrated DES containing 30% water (H30) demonstrate efficient delignification (82.9%). Additionally, the hydrated DES protected the β- O -4 linkage from excessive cleavage and recondensation as well as keep the light-colored of lignin. Moreover, the hydrated DES extracted lignin exhibits superior antioxidant performance and tyrosinase inhibitory capacity compared to the control. Notably, incorporating 5% lignin of H30-extracted lignin into a commercial suncream led to a remarkable enhancement of the SPF value, elevating from 14.8 to 32.6. In summary, the proposed hydrated DES pretreatment method offers significant benefits for extracting light-colored lignin, thereby promoting the multifunctional application of lignin in cosmetics.