Tackiness of a biodegradable binder for erosion control mulch

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Version française disponibleSoil erosion on slopes is a natural phenomenon caused by the rainwater draining down the slope. Covering theslope with a protective layer of vegetation can stop loosening soil particles due to rain and preventing themfrom being washed down the slope. Erosion Control Blanket (ECBVerdyol) is a full line manufacturer oferosion control products, hydraulic mulches, and revegetation products. The company seeks to enter a newbusiness that would supply a lignin-based binder system to supplement ECB's sprayable mulch products.ECBVerdyol does not have a binder system that is needed to keep the mulch systems in place, especially onsloped earth when exposed to rain to prevent erosion. To improve the internal bonding of mulch, bindingagents can be added. The best commercial product that is being used in mulches is based on expensivepetro-chemically derived components. Therefore, the objective of this proposal is to develop a binder systembased on bio-renewable components such as lignin and glycerol.It is proposed that low and high ash content lignin made by West Fraser in Hinton, AB and supplied byECBVerdyol will be used and mixed with a natural plasticizer (glycerol). Mixture of water, glycerol, and ligninwill be tested for viscosity and tackiness. Blends of the above mixture with mulch will be tested for staticfriction by measuring the angle of repose. The experimental results of the tested mixtures will be compared tomulches mixed with a commercial product containing FINN E-Tack as a reference. The results of theinvestigations will provide data for ECBVerdyol with regard to the lignin-plasticizer-mulch ratio and will allowthe company to replace petrochemical-based components such as FINN E-Tack with the environmentallyfriendly lignin-based binder. The experimental results obtained from this project will be essential to help thecompany to make a decision on an economical scale-up production of a high-tack binder for the mulch systemsbased on bio-renewable components.