Also: lignin, kraft lignin, plant lignin
Lignin is the glue-like polymer that makes wood and plant stems rigid. Paper mills produce huge amounts of it as a by-product, and researchers are turning it into carbon fibre, adhesives, resins, gels and UV-blocking films.
Readiness: lab lab studies · prototype demonstrated objects · commercial products or buildings in real use · review summaries of other studies.
A plant-inspired adhesive and tough hydrogel built around silver-lignin nanoparticles that drive catechol chemistry.
Built / tested: hydrogels
As reported in: Gan, Xing, Jiang et al. (2019). Plant-inspired adhesive and tough hydrogel based on Ag-Lignin nanoparticles-triggered dynamic redox catechol chemistry. Nature Communications. doi:10.1038/s41467-019-09351-2
Investigated making carbon fibres from lignin for use in fibre-reinforced composites.
Built / tested: carbon fibres
As reported in: Kadla, Kubo, Venditti et al. (2002). Lignin-based carbon fibers for composite fiber applications. Carbon. doi:10.1016/s0008-6223(02)00248-8
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A review of ways to use lignin in polymer and composite systems for engineering applications.
As reported in: Collins, Nechifor, Tanasă et al. (2019). Valorization of lignin in polymer and composite systems for advanced engineering applications – A review. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules. doi:10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2019.03.069
A biodegradable, flexible film of cellulose and lignin that provides UV protection.
Built / tested: UV protection films
As reported in: Sadeghifar, Venditti, Jur et al. (2016). Cellulose-Lignin Biodegradable and Flexible UV Protection Film. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering. doi:10.1021/acssuschemeng.6b02003
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A biomass-derived lignin-epoxy resin proposed as an alternative to formaldehyde-based wood adhesives.
Built / tested: wood adhesive
As reported in: Li, Gutierrez, Chung et al. (2018). A lignin-epoxy resin derived from biomass as an alternative to formaldehyde-based wood adhesives. Green Chemistry. doi:10.1039/c7gc03026f
Abstract only