Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
8.0
4.7
Journals
Polymers
Special Issues
Progress in Lignin Value-Added Polymers
polymers-logo
Submit to Polymers Review for Polymers Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

► Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser
share announcement

Progress in Lignin Value-Added Polymers

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Biobased and Biodegradable Polymers".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2020) | Viewed by 37162

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Hasan Sadeghifar

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Department of Forest Biomaterials, College of Natural Resources, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
2. Product development lead, Hollingsworth & Vose, West Groton, MA, USA
Interests: lignin chemistry; lignin value-added polymers; bio-based nanoparticles; nanocellulose; natural-based hydrogel and filter media

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Lignin as a natural phenolic byproduct of the pulping process that composes 20%–30% of most woody resources and lignocellulosic biomass and is the second most abundant terrestrial biopolymer after cellulose. Currently, lignin from the pulping industries is around 70 m metric tons annually. However, it is highly underutilized, and only about 2% of lignin is commercially utilized for low-value products due to lack of value-added applications in the marketplace. This Special Issue is dedicated to addressing the latest progress in lignin value-added products. Compared to synthetic polymers, lignin has the advantage of being biocompatible, biodegradable, and sustainable. Lignin complexity and heterogeneity with a high cross-linked structure is its main issue for the high value application.

The aim of this Special Issue is to discuss lignin fractionation for more homogeneous structures, modification for value-added products, lignin nanoparticles, and its application in drug delivery, as a UV blocker, as a flame retardant, and much other more advanced applications, including various physical and chemical applications in the biomedical and green industry fields.

This Special Issue welcomes full papers, short communications, and review articles highlighting the aspects of the current trends in the area of lignin-based products.

Dr. Hasan Sadeghifar
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Polymers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Lignin fractionation
  • Lignin chemical modification
  • Lignin nanoparticle
  • Bio-based polymer
  • Electrochemcal lignin analysis and modificatin
  • Lignin-based flame retardant
  • Lignin-based UV blocker

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (5 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

16 pages, 3116 KiB  
Article
Lignin Based Activated Carbon Using H3PO4 Activation
by Zhongzhi Yang, Roland Gleisner, Doreen H. Mann, Junming Xu, Jianchun Jiang and J.Y. Zhu
Polymers 2020, 12(12), 2829; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12122829 - 28 Nov 2020
Cited by 50 | Viewed by 5951
Abstract
Activated carbon (AC) with a very high surface area of over 2000 m2/g was produced from low sulfur acid hydrotropic lignin (AHL) from poplar wood using H3PO4 at a moderate temperature of 450 °C (AHL-AC6). ACs with similar [...] Read more.
Activated carbon (AC) with a very high surface area of over 2000 m2/g was produced from low sulfur acid hydrotropic lignin (AHL) from poplar wood using H3PO4 at a moderate temperature of 450 °C (AHL-AC6). ACs with similar surface areas were also obtained under the same activation condition from commercial hardwood alkali lignin and lignosulfonate. Initial evaluation of AC performance was carried out using nitrogen adsorption-desorption and dye adsorption. AHL-AC6 exhibited the best specific surface area and dye adsorption performance. Furthermore, the adsorption results of congo red (CR) and methylene blue (MB) showed AHL-AC6 had greater adsorption capacity than those reported in literature. The dye adsorption data fit to the Langmuir model well. The fitting parameter suggests the adsorption is nearly strong and near irreversible, especially for MB. The present study for the first time provided a procedure for producing AC from lignin with Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area >2000 m2/g using low cost and low environmental impact H3PO4 at moderate temperatures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Progress in Lignin Value-Added Polymers)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

10 pages, 3089 KiB  
Article
High-Yield Production of Lignin-Derived Functional Carbon Nanosheet for Dye Adsorption
by Fenggui Chen, Xi Hu, Xiaohan Tu, Linfei Chen, Xi Liu, Linli Tan, Yulin Mao, Jianwei Shi, Xiaoxu Teng, Shuhua He, Zonghui Qin, Jianhua Xu and Jian Wu
Polymers 2020, 12(4), 797; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12040797 - 2 Apr 2020
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 2987
Abstract
In this article, we report the preparation of lignin-derived carbon nanosheet (L-CNS) by direct thermal treatment of lignin without activation operation and the functions of the L-CNS as an adsorbent for rhodamine dye. The L-CNSs are fabricated by freeze-drying (FD) methods of lignin [...] Read more.
In this article, we report the preparation of lignin-derived carbon nanosheet (L-CNS) by direct thermal treatment of lignin without activation operation and the functions of the L-CNS as an adsorbent for rhodamine dye. The L-CNSs are fabricated by freeze-drying (FD) methods of lignin followed by high-temperature carbonization. It is found that lower frozen temperature in FD or lower concentration of lignin aqueous solution renders L-CNSs’ more porous morphology and higher specific surface area (SSA), allowing a promising application of the L-CNSs as an efficient adsorbent for organic pollutants. In particular, the alkaline hydroxide catalyst helps to increase the SSA of carbon products, leading to a further improved adsorption capacity. On the other hand, p-toluenesulfonic acid (TsOH) catalyzed pyrolysis, which dramatically increased the L-CNS product yield, and provided a high-yield approach for the production of pollutant absorbent. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Progress in Lignin Value-Added Polymers)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Review

Jump to: Research

24 pages, 5815 KiB  
Review
Recent Advances in the Application of Functionalized Lignin in Value-Added Polymeric Materials
by Yun-Yan Wang, Xianzhi Meng, Yunqiao Pu and Arthur J. Ragauskas
Polymers 2020, 12(10), 2277; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12102277 - 3 Oct 2020
Cited by 71 | Viewed by 8741
Abstract
The quest for converting lignin into high-value products has been continuously pursued in the past few decades. In its native form, lignin is a group of heterogeneous polymers comprised of phenylpropanoids. The major commercial lignin streams, including Kraft lignin, lignosulfonates, soda lignin and [...] Read more.
The quest for converting lignin into high-value products has been continuously pursued in the past few decades. In its native form, lignin is a group of heterogeneous polymers comprised of phenylpropanoids. The major commercial lignin streams, including Kraft lignin, lignosulfonates, soda lignin and organosolv lignin, are produced from industrial processes including the paper and pulping industry and emerging lignocellulosic biorefineries. Although lignin has been viewed as a low-cost and renewable feedstock to replace petroleum-based materials, its utilization in polymeric materials has been suppressed due to the low reactivity and inherent physicochemical properties of lignin. Hence, various lignin modification strategies have been developed to overcome these problems. Herein, we review recent progress made in the utilization of functionalized lignins in commodity polymers including thermoset resins, blends/composites, grafted functionalized copolymers and carbon fiber precursors. In the synthesis of thermoset resins such as polyurethane, phenol-formaldehyde and epoxy, they are covalently incorporated into the polymer matrix, and the discussion is focused on chemical modifications improving the reactivity of technical lignins. In blends/composites, functionalization of technical lignins is based upon tuning the intermolecular forces between polymer components. In addition, grafted functional polymers have expanded the utilization of lignin-based copolymers to biomedical materials and value-added additives. Different modification approaches have also been applied to facilitate the application of lignin as carbon fiber precursors, heavy metal adsorbents and nanoparticles. These emerging fields will create new opportunities in cost-effectively integrating the lignin valorization into lignocellulosic biorefineries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Progress in Lignin Value-Added Polymers)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

25 pages, 3347 KiB  
Review
Insights into the Potential of Hardwood Kraft Lignin to Be a Green Platform Material for Emergence of the Biorefinery
by Juliana M. Jardim, Peter W. Hart, Lucian Lucia and Hasan Jameel
Polymers 2020, 12(8), 1795; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12081795 - 11 Aug 2020
Cited by 43 | Viewed by 5727
Abstract
Lignin is an abundant, renewable, and relatively cheap biobased feedstock that has potential in energy, chemicals, and materials. Kraft lignin, more specifically, has been used for more than 100 years as a self-sustaining energy feedstock for industry after which it has finally reached [...] Read more.
Lignin is an abundant, renewable, and relatively cheap biobased feedstock that has potential in energy, chemicals, and materials. Kraft lignin, more specifically, has been used for more than 100 years as a self-sustaining energy feedstock for industry after which it has finally reached more widespread commercial appeal. Unfortunately, hardwood kraft lignin (HWKL) has been neglected over these years when compared to softwood kraft lignin (SWKL). Therefore, the present work summarizes and critically reviews the research and development (R&D) dealing specifically with HWKL. It will also cover methods for HWKL extraction from black liquor, as well as its structure, properties, fractionation, and modification. Finally, it will reveal several interesting opportunities for HWKL that include dispersants, adsorbents, antioxidants, aromatic compounds (chemicals), and additives in briquettes, pellets, hydrogels, carbon fibers and polymer blends and composites. HWKL shows great potential for all these applications, however more R&D is needed to make its utilization economically feasible and reach the levels in the commercial lignin market commensurate with SWKL. The motivation for this critical review is to galvanize further studies, especially increased understandings in the field of HWKL, and hence amplify much greater utilization. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Progress in Lignin Value-Added Polymers)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

10 pages, 648 KiB  
Review
Lignin as a UV Light Blocker—A Review
by Hasan Sadeghifar and Arthur Ragauskas
Polymers 2020, 12(5), 1134; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12051134 - 15 May 2020
Cited by 221 | Viewed by 13040
Abstract
Lignin is the by-product of pulp and paper industries and bio-refining operations. It is available as the leading natural phenolic biopolymer in the market. It has chromophore functional groups and can absorb a broad spectrum of UV light in range of 250–400 nm. [...] Read more.
Lignin is the by-product of pulp and paper industries and bio-refining operations. It is available as the leading natural phenolic biopolymer in the market. It has chromophore functional groups and can absorb a broad spectrum of UV light in range of 250–400 nm. Using lignin as a natural ingredient in sunscreen cream, transparent film, paints, varnishes and microorganism protection has been actively investigated. Both in non-modified and modified forms, lignin provides enhancing UV protection of commercial products with less than a 10% blend with other material. In mixtures with other synthetic UV blockers, lignin indicated synergic effects and increased final UV blocking potential in compare with using only synthetic UV blocker or lignin. However, using lignin as a UV blocker is also challenging due to its complex structure, polydispersity in molecular weight, brownish color and some impurities that require more research in order to make it an ideal bio-based UV blocker. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Progress in Lignin Value-Added Polymers)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-5
Back to TopTop