Functionalized Polymers from Lignocellulosic Biomass: State of the Art

Abstract

Abstract:Since the realization that global sustainability depends on renewable sources of materials and energy, there has been an ever-increasing need to develop bio-based polymers that are able to replace petroleum-based polymers. Research in this field has shown strong potential in generating high-performance functionalized polymers from plant biomass. With the anticipated large-scale production of lignocellulosic biomass, lignin, cellulose and hemicellulosic polysaccharides will be abundantly available renewable feedstocks for biopolymers and biocomposites with physico-chemical properties that match or exceed those of petroleum-based compounds. This review examines the state of the art regarding advances and challenges in synthesis and applications of specialty polymers and composites derived from cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin, ending with a brief assessment of genetic modification as a route to tailor crop plants for specific applications.

New functional nanocomposites based on poly(trimethylene 2,5-furanoate) and few layer graphene prepared by in situ polymerization

“…The main materials used in this study were dimethyl furan 2,5-dicarboxylate with a purity of 99.9% (S2595, Sarchem Laboratories, Inc., Farmingdale, NJ, USA), Susterra ® 1,3-propanediol with purity of 99.6% (bio-PDO™, DuPont Tate & Lyle BioProducts, Loudon, USA), catalyst: tetrabutyl orthotitanate (Ti(OBu) 4 , Fluka (distributor for Poland: Krakchemia S.A., Cracow, Poland) and antioxidant: Irganox 1010 (Ciba-Geigy, Basel, Switzerland). Few layer graphene (FLG) was prepared by a modified method based on mechanical exfoliation (ablation) of graphite materials previously reported [49].…”

“…These include, among others, 2,5-furanedicarboxylic acid (FDCA) synthesized from 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) [7]. It was identified as one of the twelve most promising compounds of vegetal origin for the synthesis of polymeric materials including polyurethanes, polyamides and polyesters [2,4,5,8,9] as well as their copolymers with elastomeric properties. Polyesters that contain furan moieties in their structures, have been widely investigated for decades, starting with Moore and Kelly's pioneering research about thirty years ago [10] and continuing with some recent studies [7,[11][12][13].…”

Recent developments in polymers derived from industrial lignin

“…2,3 The use of plant biomass as a feedstock for fuels and chemicals has two additional benefits: its potential to boost local and regional economies through employment opportunities in biomass production and processing, and the potential to produce bio-based products with properties that are difficult to match with the use of petroleum-based chemicals or products that can be made at lower cost. [4][5][6][7] Cellulose, and to a lesser extent, hemicellulosic polysaccharides, have been treated as the primary polymers of interest in biomass, while lignin, an aromatic polymer, has traditionally been viewed as a waste product that is best burned to generate heat or electricity. 8,9 With biomass comprising of, depending on the source, 15-30% lignin, this practice renders a large source of bio-based chemicals underutilized.…”

Influence of Surface Treatment on Tensile Properties of Low-Density Polyethylene/Cellulose Woven Biocomposites: A Preliminary Study

“…The use of polysaccharide-like cellulose as natural filler in various polymer composite systems has been widely investigated by many researchers [1][2][3][4]. This is due to the fact that the cellulose is one of the most abundant polymers on the earth, which is also low-cost, non-toxic, renewable, environmentally friendly and biodegradable [5,6].…”