Recent Advances in the Application of Functionalized Lignin in Value-Added Polymeric Materials
The quest for converting lignin into high-value products has been continuously pursued in the past few decades. In its native form, lignin is a group of heterogeneous polymers comprised of phenylpropanoids. The major commercial lignin streams, including Kraft lignin, lignosulfonates, soda lignin and...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-10-01
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| Series: | Polymers |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/12/10/2277 |
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| author | Yun-Yan Wang Xianzhi Meng Yunqiao Pu Arthur J. Ragauskas |
| author_facet | Yun-Yan Wang Xianzhi Meng Yunqiao Pu Arthur J. Ragauskas |
| author_sort | Yun-Yan Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The quest for converting lignin into high-value products has been continuously pursued in the past few decades. In its native form, lignin is a group of heterogeneous polymers comprised of phenylpropanoids. The major commercial lignin streams, including Kraft lignin, lignosulfonates, soda lignin and organosolv lignin, are produced from industrial processes including the paper and pulping industry and emerging lignocellulosic biorefineries. Although lignin has been viewed as a low-cost and renewable feedstock to replace petroleum-based materials, its utilization in polymeric materials has been suppressed due to the low reactivity and inherent physicochemical properties of lignin. Hence, various lignin modification strategies have been developed to overcome these problems. Herein, we review recent progress made in the utilization of functionalized lignins in commodity polymers including thermoset resins, blends/composites, grafted functionalized copolymers and carbon fiber precursors. In the synthesis of thermoset resins such as polyurethane, phenol-formaldehyde and epoxy, they are covalently incorporated into the polymer matrix, and the discussion is focused on chemical modifications improving the reactivity of technical lignins. In blends/composites, functionalization of technical lignins is based upon tuning the intermolecular forces between polymer components. In addition, grafted functional polymers have expanded the utilization of lignin-based copolymers to biomedical materials and value-added additives. Different modification approaches have also been applied to facilitate the application of lignin as carbon fiber precursors, heavy metal adsorbents and nanoparticles. These emerging fields will create new opportunities in cost-effectively integrating the lignin valorization into lignocellulosic biorefineries. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T15:52:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-da8a840718ef4239b702389d7d20766a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4360 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T15:52:11Z |
| publishDate | 2020-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Polymers |
| spelling | doaj.art-da8a840718ef4239b702389d7d20766a2023-11-20T16:00:56ZengMDPI AGPolymers2073-43602020-10-011210227710.3390/polym12102277Recent Advances in the Application of Functionalized Lignin in Value-Added Polymeric MaterialsYun-Yan Wang0Xianzhi Meng1Yunqiao Pu2Arthur J. Ragauskas3Center for Renewable Carbon, Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries, University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, Knoxville, TN 37996, USADepartment of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USAJoint Institute for Biological Science, Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USACenter for Renewable Carbon, Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries, University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, Knoxville, TN 37996, USAThe quest for converting lignin into high-value products has been continuously pursued in the past few decades. In its native form, lignin is a group of heterogeneous polymers comprised of phenylpropanoids. The major commercial lignin streams, including Kraft lignin, lignosulfonates, soda lignin and organosolv lignin, are produced from industrial processes including the paper and pulping industry and emerging lignocellulosic biorefineries. Although lignin has been viewed as a low-cost and renewable feedstock to replace petroleum-based materials, its utilization in polymeric materials has been suppressed due to the low reactivity and inherent physicochemical properties of lignin. Hence, various lignin modification strategies have been developed to overcome these problems. Herein, we review recent progress made in the utilization of functionalized lignins in commodity polymers including thermoset resins, blends/composites, grafted functionalized copolymers and carbon fiber precursors. In the synthesis of thermoset resins such as polyurethane, phenol-formaldehyde and epoxy, they are covalently incorporated into the polymer matrix, and the discussion is focused on chemical modifications improving the reactivity of technical lignins. In blends/composites, functionalization of technical lignins is based upon tuning the intermolecular forces between polymer components. In addition, grafted functional polymers have expanded the utilization of lignin-based copolymers to biomedical materials and value-added additives. Different modification approaches have also been applied to facilitate the application of lignin as carbon fiber precursors, heavy metal adsorbents and nanoparticles. These emerging fields will create new opportunities in cost-effectively integrating the lignin valorization into lignocellulosic biorefineries.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/12/10/2277ligninfunctionalizationresinsthermoplasticscompositescopolymers |
| spellingShingle | Yun-Yan Wang Xianzhi Meng Yunqiao Pu Arthur J. Ragauskas Recent Advances in the Application of Functionalized Lignin in Value-Added Polymeric Materials Polymers lignin functionalization resins thermoplastics composites copolymers |
| title | Recent Advances in the Application of Functionalized Lignin in Value-Added Polymeric Materials |
| title_full | Recent Advances in the Application of Functionalized Lignin in Value-Added Polymeric Materials |
| title_fullStr | Recent Advances in the Application of Functionalized Lignin in Value-Added Polymeric Materials |
| title_full_unstemmed | Recent Advances in the Application of Functionalized Lignin in Value-Added Polymeric Materials |
| title_short | Recent Advances in the Application of Functionalized Lignin in Value-Added Polymeric Materials |
| title_sort | recent advances in the application of functionalized lignin in value added polymeric materials |
| topic | lignin functionalization resins thermoplastics composites copolymers |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/12/10/2277 |
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