Recent developments towards performance-enhancing lignin-based polymers

Bass, Garrett; Epps, Thomas H.

doi:10.1039/d1py00694k

Cited by 49 publications

(49 citation statements)

References 247 publications

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“…Bass and Epps (2021) provided a detailed overview on the latest efforts towards creating performance-enhanced, LiG-based polymers. The authors have emphasized the possibilities and challenges for utilization of LiG blends and composites, thermosets, thermoplastics and vitrimers [ 154 ].…”

Section: Lignin-derived Polymersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recent Advances in Synthesis and Degradation of Lignin and Lignin Nanoparticles and Their Emerging Applications in Nanotechnology

Yadav¹,

Gupta

Kumar

et al. 2022

Materials

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Lignin is an important commercially produced polymeric material. It is used extensively in both industrial and agricultural activities. Recently, it has drawn much attention from the scientific community. It is abundantly present in nature and has significant application in the production of biodegradable materials. Its wide usage includes drug delivery, polymers and several forms of emerging lignin nanoparticles. The synthesis of lignin nanoparticles is carried out in a controlled manner. The traditional manufacturing techniques are costly and often toxic and hazardous to the environment. This review article highlights simple, safe, climate-friendly and ecological approaches to the synthesis of lignin nanoparticles. The changeable, complex structure and recalcitrant nature of lignin makes it challenging to degrade. Researchers have discovered a small number of microorganisms that have developed enzymatic and non-enzymatic metabolic pathways to use lignin as a carbon source. These microbes show promising potential for the biodegradation of lignin. The degradation pathways of these microbes are also described, which makes the study of biological synthesis much easier. However, surface modification of lignin nanoparticles is something that is yet to be explored. This review elucidates the recent advances in the biodegradation of lignin in the ecological system. It includes the current approaches, methods for modification, new applications and research for the synthesis of lignin and lignin nanoparticles. Additionally, the intricacy of lignin’s structure, along with its chemical nature, is well-described. This article will help increase the understanding of the utilization of lignin as an economical and alternative-resource material. It will also aid in the minimization of solid waste arising from lignin.

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Section: Lignin-derived Polymersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recent Advances in Synthesis and Degradation of Lignin and Lignin Nanoparticles and Their Emerging Applications in Nanotechnology

Yadav¹,

Gupta

Kumar

et al. 2022

Materials

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“… 44 A positive aspect of these materials is their renewable origin; however, the steps necessary to obtain these compounds from their biosources, relative to their petrochemical analogues, may have substantial environmental impacts that are much greater than the effects of sourcing virgin petroleum feedstocks. 45 The second is bio-based polymers with monomeric and macromolecular structures that are chemically distinct from their petroleum-derived alternatives. 36 Here, we focus on the latter class of materials, as the former can be considered identical to the petrochemical versions from a recycling, upgrading, or upcycling point of view.…”

Section: Current and Burgeoning Approaches To Sustainable Plasticsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, a key challenge that must be addressed is the lack of inherent biodegradability or recyclability in many lignin-derived constructs—yet, it is worth noting that many bio-based plastics sequester carbon dioxide in the best cases (and carbon in cases for which hydrogenation is a prominent step in bio-based polymer creation), so any potential release of greenhouse gases at end of life must be considered. 8 , 45 …”

Section: Current and Burgeoning Approaches To Sustainable Plasticsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sustainability of Synthetic Plastics: Considerations in Materials Life-Cycle Management

Epps

Korley

Yan

et al. 2021

JACS Au

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The sustainability of current and future plastic materials is a major focus of basic research, industry, government, and society at large. There is a general recognition of the positive impacts of plastics, especially packaging; however, the negative consequences around end-of-life outcomes and overall materials circularity are issues that must be addressed. In this perspective, we highlight some of the challenges associated with the many uses of plastic components and the diversity of materials needed to satisfy consumer demand, with several examples focused on plastics packaging. We also discuss the opportunities provided by conventional and advanced recycling/upgrading routes to petrochemical and bio-based materials and feedstocks, along with overviews of chemistry-related (experimental, computational, data science, and materials traceability) approaches to the valorization of polymers toward a closed-loop environment.

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“…Up to now, technical lignin is primarily used as a source of energy; however, the material recovery is on the rise. Apart from the use in duromers and resins, the main field of application proceeds via thermoplastic processing [3,9,10]. Especially as a formulation component in polyolefin composites, technical lignin offers various benefits.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Odor-Reduced HDPE-Lignin Blends by Use of Processing Additives

et al. 2022

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The comprehensive use of natural polymers, such as lignin, can accelerate the replacement of mineral oil-based commodities. Promoting the material recovery of the still underutilized technical lignin, polyolefin-lignin blends are a highly promising approach towards sustainable polymeric materials. However, a limiting factor for high-quality applications is the unpleasant odor of technical lignin and resulting blends. The latter, especially, are a target for potential odor reduction, since heat- and shear-force intense processing can intensify the smell. In the present study, the odor optimization of kraft and soda HDPE-lignin blends was implemented by the in-process application of two different processing additives–5% of activated carbon and 0.7% of a stripping agent. Both additives were added directly within the compounding process executed with a twin screw extruder. The odor properties of the produced blends were assessed systematically by a trained human panel performing sensory evaluations of the odor characteristics. Subsequently, causative odor-active molecules were elucidated by means of GC-O and 2D-GC-MS/O while OEDA gave insights into relative odor potencies of single odorants. Out of 70 different odorants detected in the entirety of the sample material, more than 30 sulfur-containing odorants were present in the kraft HDPE-lignin blend, most of them neo-formed due to high melt temperatures during extrusion, leading to strong burnt and sulfurous smells. The addition of activated carbon significantly decreased especially these sulfurous compounds, resulting in 48% of overall odor reduction of the kraft blend (mean intensity ratings of 5.2) in comparison to the untreated blend (10.0). The applied stripping agent, an aqueous solution of polymeric, surface-active substances adsorbed onto a PP carrier, was less powerful in reducing neo-formed sulfur odorants, but led to a decrease in odor of 26% in the case of the soda HDPE-lignin blend (7.4). The identification of single odorants on a molecular level further enabled the elucidation of odor reduction trends within single compound classes. The obtained odor reduction strategies not only promote the deodorization of HDPE-lignin blends, but might be additionally helpful for the odor optimization of other natural-fiber based materials.

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Recent developments towards performance-enhancing lignin-based polymers

Abstract: Fossil fuels are a cheap and abundant feedstock for polymeric materials that have enabled innumerable quality-of-life improvements. Yet, their declining supply and non-renewable nature have driven the pursuit of bio-based...

Cited by 49 publications

References 247 publications

Recent Advances in Synthesis and Degradation of Lignin and Lignin Nanoparticles and Their Emerging Applications in Nanotechnology

Recent Advances in Synthesis and Degradation of Lignin and Lignin Nanoparticles and Their Emerging Applications in Nanotechnology

Sustainability of Synthetic Plastics: Considerations in Materials Life-Cycle Management

Odor-Reduced HDPE-Lignin Blends by Use of Processing Additives

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