SBIR Phase I: Trans-esterified Lignin Thermoplastic

这个小企业创新研究第一阶段项目解决了对负担得起的生物基塑料的需求，以取代石油基材料。本研究的目的是证明化学改性木质素和热塑性塑料之间的强分子间相互作用，证明酯交换的最佳条件，证明增强的聚酯和聚苯乙烯的机械性能，并证明扩大规模的可行性。这项研究有两个主要组成部分，分为其他主要任务。第一部分是酯交换反应改善木质素热塑性共混物的实验测试。这是通过制备化学改性的木质素并尝试将其与聚酯以各种共混比例进行转化来完成的。接下来，将生产样品进行分析，以确定物理和机械性能。第二个组成部分是确保制造工艺和材料的商业可行性。将使用小规模工业生产设备生产更大量的酯交换产物。 生产过程将包括优化有效生产实践以实现可扩展性的步骤。第一阶段项目的预期结果是生产出一种酯交换木质素/聚酯产品，其机械和物理性能与聚酯或聚苯乙烯相同或更好，可以以商业规模生产。该项目的更广泛影响/商业潜力解决了美国塑料袋和薄膜市场日益增长的问题。塑料袋是一个环境眼中钉，污染水道和杀死野生动物。当地政府正在通过法律禁止使用塑料袋，以阻止污染的蔓延。2010年美国塑料袋市场为86亿美元。此外，生物塑料市场预计到2015年将增长两倍以上，达到29亿美元。虽然社会和政府更加重视减少或更换高密度聚乙烯（HDPE）购物袋，但这些袋子仍然很受欢迎，仅在美国每年就消耗超过1000亿个袋子。由于纤维素乙醇工厂的增加和更有效的造纸工艺，预计木质素产量将在随后的几年中增加。酯交换木质素树脂的木质素浓度范围取决于应用。该树脂的成分可以完全生物降解，也可以与传统塑料复合，形成可持续的混合物。为该项目进行的实验将确定生产酯交换木质素产品所需的理想条件和材料。还将进行实验以将该工艺扩大到商业规模。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project addresses the need for affordable biobased plastics to replace petroleum-based materials. The objectives of this research are to demonstrate strong intermolecular interactions between chemically modified lignin and thermoplastics, demonstrate optimal conditions for transesterification, demonstrate enhanced mechanical properties of polyester and polystyrene, and demonstrate scale-up feasibility. This research has two main components that are broken down into other major tasks. The first component is the experimental testing of transesterification to improve lignin thermoplastic blends. This is completed by preparing a chemically modified lignin and attempting to transesterify it at various blend proportions with a polyester. Next, samples will be produced for analysis to determine the physical and mechanical properties. The second component is to ensure commercial viability of the manufacturing process and materials. Larger amounts of transesterified product will be produced using small-scale industrial manufacturing equipment. The production process will include steps towards optimization of efficient manufacturing practices for scalability. The anticipated results of this Phase I project are to create a transesterified lignin/polyester product that has equal or better mechanical and physical properties to polyester or polystyrene that can be produced at a commercial scale.The broader impact/commercial potential of this project addresses the growing problem of the U.S. plastic bag and film market. Plastic bags are an environmental eyesore that pollute waterways and kill wildlife. Local governments are now passing laws to ban the use plastic bags in efforts to hinder the spread of pollution. The U.S. plastic bag market was $8.6 billion in 2010. Further, the bioplastics market is expected to more than triple by 2015 to $2.9 billion. While society and government have placed more emphasis on reduction or replacement of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) shopping bags, these bags are still widely popular, with over 100 billion bags consumed every year across the U.S. alone. Lignin output is expected to increase in the ensuing years due to an increase in cellulosic ethanol plants coming on line and more efficient paper manufacturing processes. Transesterified lignin resins will range in lignin concentration depending on the application. The components of the resin can be fully biodegradable or compounded with conventional plastics to create sustainable blends. The experiments conducted for this project will determine the ideal conditions and materials necessary to produce transesterified lignin products. Experiments will also be conducted to scale up the process to a commercial scale.