Technical lignin comes in all ‘shapes and sizes’, with regards to functionality, interunit linkages, and molar mass. Creating useful lignin derivatives that have altered thermal properties, solubility, reactivity and miscibility with other polymers expand the ability to process lignin and augment the performance of the materials. Towards this end, lignin derivatization using the benign carbon storage compound, ethylene carbonate, provides a path to create lignin with uniform chemical functionality with only aliphatic hydroxyl groups. Methods such as real-time monitoring of the reaction and fractional precipitation have been adopted to control the degree of hydroxyethylation of lignin and limit side-products. This talk will provide insight into the reaction, the role of moisture, and methods to isolate lignin with desired molar mass. Further, unique lignin derivatives will be described after subsequent esterification with organic acids such as benzoic acid, acrylic acid, and oleic acid to control solubility and melt processability. Analysis such as thermal stability and melt viscosity are used to determine processing windows for samples that are 100% lignin derivatives or blended with polyesters like polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Other methods like solution fabrication of colloidal lignin particles from these derivatives will be highlighted. As such, lignin modification can play a significant role in enhancing the utility of lignin for the advancement of renewable materials.

Hydroxyethyl lignin and its useful derivatives with augmented properties

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