Chemical Modification of Lignin for Bio-based Materials

The increasing need for environmental protection together with the concerns over the future availability of petrochemical feedstock have led to the design and development of new bio-based chemicals and materials using renewable resources. Lignin is the second most abundant natural renewable polymer after cellulose. The lignin content in woody stem various between 15%-40% and it is presented as a by-product of paper pulping and is considered a wast product (the annual generation is estimated at 50 million tons worldwide) and is often used as fuel for energy balance for the pulping process. In this present work, we aim to develop novel techniques to modify lignin by epoxidation – grafting epoxide on lignin, and copolymerization to bring up its molecular weight and increase its compatibility with other polymer materials. The epoxy-lignin-based materials will be cured and applied as formaldehyde-free adhesives for engineered wood products (plywood, oriented strand board, and medium density……TOBECONTINUED

Faculty Supervisor:

Charles Xu

Student:

Partner:

Arclin Canada

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Manufacturing

University:

Western University

Program: