Ecologically sustainable construction materials are hotly pursued in ongoing research. Among many proposed biomaterials, lignocellulosic biomass agricultural waste represents a significant ecological burden and an abundant waste stream for valorization. Elemental sulfur, likewise, is a waste product of energy production that is both abundant and affordable. Elemental Sulfur is well known for its biocidal properties and low thermal conductivity, making it an insulative, fire- and pest-resistant material. The main drawback of applying sulfur on its own as a structural element is its inherently low mechanical strength. Lignin, a polyaromaticpolyol, is the second most abundant bio macro molecules in the world, exists in plant cell wall. This can provide prominent mechanical strength due to its 3D, aromatic polymeric structure. Thus, lignin could be combined with sulfur to afford high-strength materials. The current contribution will focus on combining lignin and sulfur-rich molecules to make polymers and composites. One significant challenge in this work is the complex structure of lignin and its changes depending on the plant species and the extraction method. Lignin modification strategies and some approaches to quantifying the degree of substitution reliably will be discussed, to include titrations, <sup>1</sup>H NMR, <sup>31</sup>P NMR, and IR spectroscopic techniques. The thermal and mechanical properties of the composites, as studied by TGA, DSC and DMA analyses, will also be presented.

Modification of lignin and its incorporation into polymers and composites for sustainable building technologies

256th National Meeting (2018)

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