Turning Cocoa Pod Husks into Flame Retardants

Date:17 Oct 2023

Country: United States

Application

• Flame Retardants: Modified lignin from cocoa pod husks can be used as an eco-friendly alternative in the production of flame retardant materials.

Description

Researchers have explored using cocoa pod husks, a byproduct of chocolate production, to create flame retardants. They extracted high-quality lignin from the husks and modified it with a fire-suppressant molecule. The resulting material demonstrated flame-retardant properties, potentially offering a renewable, sustainable alternative to petroleum-based flame retardants. Future work aims to optimize its properties and ensure safety for practical use.

Pathway Description:

The process used in this project involves extracting lignin from cocoa pod husks using the Butanosolv process (boiling with butanol and acid). The lignin is then purified to remove contaminants. Next, it is chemically modified by attaching the fire-suppressant molecule DOPO to give it flame-retardant properties. The modified lignin is tested, and it chars without burning, showing its potential as a flame retardant.