Here we report a method to produce lignin-derived, industrial-grade plastics with properties rivaling current petroleum-derived alternatives. Lignin, a biomass constituent and a byproduct from the paper and biorefining industries, is a promising feedstock. In recent years, researchers have demonstrated that lignin can be used directly to create a number of novel plastic resins, but most have used low lignin loading, required energy-intensive chemical modification, and had poor mechanical properties. Each of these factors severely hinders the commercialization potential of a robust family of lignin-based polymers. In our recent work, we have tailored a range of thermoplastic, recyclable polymeric materials with ≥ 50% lignin content, mechanical properties similar to high-strain thermoplastic elastomers, commodity thermoplastics, and engineering plastics. By understanding the interfacial chemistry of lignin and a range of matrix polymers and optimizing the use of compatibilizers we have produced these materials in batch and continuous production processes using solvent-free, reactive processing using traditional polymer blending and extrusion equipment. The resulting polymer exhibit multiphase morphology and shear thinning melt-rheology.

Renewable thermoplastics from lignin

249th National Meeting (2015)

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