Sustainable poly(ether amide)s from lignin‐derived precursors

Abstract

In recent years, there have been concerted efforts to replace petrochemical products with those from renewable sources due to the unsustainability of petroleum feedstock, and the continued volatility in the price. This work describes the synthesis and thermal properties of two new lignin‐derived poly(ether‐amide)s as alternative thermoplastics to petroleum‐based commodities. Poly‐4‐(2‐aminoethoxy)benzoate (PEAB) and poly‐4‐(2‐aminoethoxy)‐3‐methoxybenzoate (PEAV) are synthesized by a melt polycondensation and characterized by 1H NMR spectroscopy and thermal analysis. The number average molecular weight (Mn) of the polymers are estimated from the 1H NMR spectroscopy analysis, and were shown to be 4100 and 12,000 g/mol for PEAB and PEAV respectively. The PEAB had a higher decomposition temperature (Td) as well as glass transition temperature (Tg) compared to PEAV; albeit, with a lower molecular weight. The polymers’ Td were in the range of 330 °C–380 °C and the Tg were between 100 °C and 120 °C. The thermal properties of the polymers are in the desirable range for thermoplastic materials used in the packaging, storage, and coating industries. Furthermore, the polymers are susceptible to degradation under acidic conditions in a short period; a property that is highly desirable for degradable polymers. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018, 56, 2154–2160

Nontargeted Analysis Strategy for the Identification of Phenolic Compounds in Complex Technical Lignin Samples

“…Lignin valorization has the potential to replace completely fossil‐based aromatic polymers . By synthesizing two poly(ether amide)s from lignin‐derived precursors, Saenz and Scott showed that lignin‐based polymers are achievable . Other recent studies have shown that lignin could also be used to produce UV‐curable coatings, nanoparticles, elastomers, anticorrosion coating for metal surfaces, and carbon fibers .…”