Sustainable Plastics from Lignins

Date:5 June 2020

Country: United States

Application

• Sustainable Plastics Production: Lignins can replace petroleum-based feedstocks in the creation of biodegradable plastics.
• Biodegradable Products: Lignins can be used to produce eco-friendly alternatives for drugs, paints, and electronic products.

Description

This project explores the potential of lignins as a sustainable alternative to petroleum in the production of plastics and other materials. Lignins, derived from renewable plant sources like wood, straw, and industrial waste, can be depolymerized to replace petroleum-derived feedstocks. This approach offers an eco-friendly solution for producing plastics, drugs, paints, and electronics, with the added benefit of biodegradable end products. However, scaling up lignin processing remains an area of active research.

Pathway Description:

The process used in this project is depolymerization of lignins. It breaks down lignin's complex structure into smaller polyaromatic chemicals. These chemicals can replace petroleum-derived feedstocks in plastics, paints, drugs, and electronics. This process offers a sustainable, renewable alternative to petroleum-based materials, with potential for biodegradable products.