Alternative Uses for Lignin

Lisa Lai
Tuesday, April 28 2009
Outline
• A review of lignin chemistry
• Current use and isolation
• Arboform: lignin plastic
• Lignosulfonates
– In building materials
– Other uses
• Conclusions
Lignin
• 3-dimensional phenolic
polymer
• Complex structure
• Composes ~15-40% of
lignocellulosic biomass
• 2nd most abundant
natural polymer

Sakakibara
Lignin monomers

Lignin Source Grasses Softwood Hardwood

ρ-Hydroxyphenyl 10-25% 0.5-3.5% Trace

Guaiacyl 25-50% 90-95% 25-50%
Syringyl 25-50% 0-1% 50-75%
Lignin linkages
C H 2O H

C
HC

 CH Linkage Softwood Hardwood

H O H 2C OCH3

 C HC
HC OR
O β-O-4 50% 60%

α-O-4 2-8% 7%
 C OH
OCH3

β-5 9-12% 6%
1 -O -4 L in k ag e

6 2 5-5 10-11% 5%

3 4-O-5 4% 7%
5
4
O C H3 β-1 7% 7%

OH β-β 2% 3%
Lignin: proposed structures

Adler Freudenberg
Lignin: more proposed structures

Nimz
Forss
Lignin: current use
• In Kraft pulping, lignin is
recovered in black liquor
• 50 million metric tons
produced annually worldwide
• ~95% of this is incinerated for
thermal electrical energy
• Burning generates an
average fuel value of 23.4
Mj/kg
Arboform

• A lignin-based thermoplastic
• Made from a mixture of lignin, plant fibers, and waxes
• Developed by German company Tecnaro in 1998
• Appearance and some physical properties similar to wood
• Moldable like plastic
Arboform: chemical properties
• Pelletized mixture of lignin,
fine fibers of wood, hemp or
flax, and wax
– Up to 50% lignin
• Liquifies at temperatures as
low as 170°C
– Polypropylene: ~160°C
– Polyethylene: 105-120°C
– Polystyrene: ~240°C
• Thermally stable up to 105°C
• Can be injection molded
similar to conventional plastic
Arboform: physical properties
• Better molding capabilities
than plastic
• Irregular fiber orientation
resists warping
– Flooring & building material
• Good acoustic properties
(speakers & musical
instruments)
• Currently 300 metric tons
produced annually
An alternative to plastic?
• More than 100 million
metric tons of plastics
originating from crude
oil are produced
annually (worldwide)
• The pacific trash vortex
is twice the size of
Texas, reaches 300
feet below sea level,
and 90% of it is plastic
Arboform: Pros and Cons
 Advantages:  Disadvantages:
• Completely • Some forms are not
biodegradable
water resistant
• Can be burned after
use
• Requires removal of
sulfur
• Not made from crude
oil • Cost: $1.60/lb,
• At least as strong as compared with less
plastic than $1/lb for
polypropylene
Lignosulfonates
• Produced in the acid sulfite pulping process
• One metric ton of pulp produces 330-540 kg of
lignosulfonate
Sodium lignosulfonates as plasticizers
for concrete
• Concrete is formed by
mixing:
– Water
– Cement
– Aggregate
• Lignosulfonates reduce the
amount of water needed,
making concrete stronger
• World revenue generated
from lignosulfonates
estimated at $490-550 million
Sodium lignosulfonates as plasticizers
for concrete
• SEM images of Portland
cement (b) without, and (c)
with the addition of
lignosulfonate
• Lignosulfonate inhibited
hydration of cement
• Exact mechanism is
unknown, but adsoption of
lignosulfonates on the
surface of cement particles is
suspected
Other uses for lignosulfonates
• Dispersant
– Chemical dyes,
plasterboard
• Binder
– Dirt roads
• Emulsifier
• Chelating agent
• Food additives
– Vanillin
Conclusions
• Lignin has a number of
potentially valuable uses
• More research will be needed
in order to make production
of these materials cost-
effective
• Market conditions will have to
change in order for Arboform
to become competitive with
conventional plastic
Thank you!

Questions?