Lignin is the second most abundant plant-based biopolymer after cellulose, and it is a sustainable raw material. Lignin is an important structural component of plants that makes up approximately one third of the total mass of trees due to the high concentration of aromaticity which enhances their mechanical properties. However, lignin has not been used for useful feedstock of advanced materials because of difficulties of modification and/or integration with other commonly used materials such as polymers. The main technical huddle is inertness of lignin and undefined complex chemical structure. The present talk will discuss a new lignin-based polymer synthesis. The new polymer is a graft copolymer of lignin and poly(ethylene brassylate) (Figure 1). Herein, the poly(ethylene brassylate) is vegetable oil, castor oil, derived biopolymer. The new lignin-based graft copolymer is biodegradable because two biodegradable polymers, lignin and poly(ethylene brassylate), are linked by biodegradable linkage, ester linkage. The degradation of new polymer is tested in sea water for prevention of marine debris. The new polymer shows strong mechanical properties which is similar to commonly used polyolefin, polyethylene (PE). Thermal property was suitable for industrial process temperature which is lower than 160 oC. Most importantly, the covalent linking of lignin to poly(ethylene brassylate) provide very stable and strong durability that lead long life time and enhanced mechanical and thermal properties. The lignin amount effluents mechanical and thermal properties that impacts on structure-property relationships.

<i>Synthesis of lignin-based polymers</i>

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