Lignin dispersion composition and its use in stabilizing emulsions

A method of producing a lignin dispersion, the method comprising:

• (i) dissolving lignin in an organic solvent substantially devoid of water yet miscible with water to result in a solution of the lignin in the organic solvent;
• and
• (ii) producing the lignin dispersion by dialyzing said solution of the lignin with water until substantially all of the organic solvent is replaced with water with simultaneous formation of spherical lignin particles dispersed in the water, wherein the spherical lignin particles have a size exclusively within a range of 100 nm to 5 microns.

A method for stabilizing an emulsion containing at least two immiscible liquids, the method comprising intimately mixing the emulsion with a lignin dispersion composition comprising spherical lignin particles dispersed in an aqueous medium, wherein the spherical lignin particles have a size exclusively within a range of 100 nm to 5 microns.

A hierarchical porous composition comprising:

• (i) a first level of organization containing an assembly of interconnected microparticles, with each microparticle defined by an outer membrane constructed of an amphiphilic block copolymer and lignin sheets, and (ii) a second level of organization in which an assembly of interconnected smaller hollow particles is present within each microparticle, with each smaller hollow particle defined by a membrane constructed of the amphiphilic block copolymer and lignin sheets.