Towards functionalized lignin and its derivatives for high-value material applications

High-value utilization of lignin: construction of an intelligent release system for targeting the delivery of pesticides

“…67 It is also frequently used for encapsulation and the controlled release of sensitive chemicals. Due to the amphiphilic nature of lignin molecules, 25 they can be partially or completely used as alternative surfactants after slight modification. Consequently, compared to particles and capsules, the use of lignin-based emulsion systems reduces the cost and potential environmental issues associated with the extensive use of surfactants.…”

“…144 Fortunately, the conversion from lignin to high-value materials is known to be commercially competitive. 25 Substantial economic returns not only facilitate the successful transition of products from laboratory settings to actual production plants, but also drive the continuous innovation and improvement of factory-produced goods. Therefore, it is imperative for companies, research institutions, and all relevant stakeholders to collaboratively address these issues, and enable LCRFs to make significant contributions to the overall well-being of humanity.…”

“…In recent years, lignin has been widely tested for the preparation of industrial polymeric materials, such as polyurethanes, phenolic, and epoxy resins, exhibiting comparable performance to synthetic materials while offering cost reduction. 25 However, to fully unlock the potential of lignin, an exciting avenue worth exploring lies in utilizing lignin for the production of high-value materials, particularly micro/nanomaterials, which find widespread applications in medical and agricultural fields. The development of lignin-based controlled release formulations (LCRFs) of pesticides is now emerging as a promising strategy, which is not only beneficial for agricultural production, but also for the high-value utilization of biomass.…”

Lignin Modification for Enhanced Performance of Polymer Composites

“…Due to lignin's special physicochemical characteristics, it has been possible to formulate prospective ligninbased polymeric compounds. 202,203 Free radical self-condensation polymerization is used to produce amorphous thermoplastic materials formed of lignin, which have a high glass transition temperature. 204,205 Moreover, lignin-based composite materials have poor mechanical properties are brittle.…”

“…PEG and PTMG, two secondary polyols, were combined with Kraft lignin fractions before PU production to increase both their dispersion and reaction with MDI in THF. Due to lignin’s special physicochemical characteristics, it has been possible to formulate prospective lignin-based polymeric compounds. , …”