Related projects
Discover more projects across a range of sectors and discipline — from AI to cleantech to social innovation.
Hydrolysis lignins (HL) are a byproduct from acid or enzymatic biomass pretreatment processes such as the ones employed in cellulosic sugar and/or ethanol plants. They are mainly composed of lignin , unreacted cellulose and mono and oligosaccharides. These lignins are, to a great extent, covalently bonded to cellulose and/or hemicellulose to form lignin carbohydrate complexes (LCCs) thereby making them insoluble in alkali and most common organic solvents â this, obviously, limits the range of applications in which they can be used, in particular, as a bio-substitute for aromatic chemicals for the synthesis lignin-based materials such as lignin-based phenol formaldehyde, polyurethane and epoxy resins. To address the above challenges in the valorization of HL as a chemical feedstock, this research targets hydrolytic depolymerization of HL in water in the presence of an alkaline catalyst to obtain de-polymerized hydrolysis lignin (DHL) with a much lower molecular weight, a higher solubility in various common solvents and, as a result, a higher chemical reactivity. In this proposal, different types of alkaline catalysts will be tested as catalysts for the process. TO BE CONT.
Charles Xu
Zaid Ahmad
FPInnovations
Engineering - chemical / biological
Forestry
Accelerate
Discover more projects across a range of sectors and discipline — from AI to cleantech to social innovation.
Find the perfect opportunity to put your academic skills and knowledge into practice!
Find ProjectsThe strong support from governments across Canada, international partners, universities, colleges, companies, and community organizations has enabled Mitacs to focus on the core idea that talent and partnerships power innovation — and innovation creates a better future.