Lignin-Polymer Composite Materials: Production Process Optimization and Product Performance Evaluation

这个Engage Plus应用程序旨在支持Domtar Inc.和叶博士在康考迪亚大学开发木质素聚合物复合材料 ** 和加工技术。木质素是仅次于纤维素的第二大生物聚合物。工业木质素是制浆米尔斯厂和生物精炼厂的副产品，大部分木质素作为低价值燃料在回收锅炉中燃烧。鉴于其天然丰富和低成本，木质素是从现有纸浆和造纸厂及其基于森林的供应链中开发新的增值生物基产品的关键平台材料。已确定了 ** 这种材料的许多潜在增值应用和增值技术，但迄今为止几乎没有商业化。Domtar作为世界领先的硫酸盐木质素生产和销售的开发和商业化领导者，在通过挤出将粗木质素粉末转化为干燥木质素颗粒并将其用于制造木质素-热塑性复合材料方面取得了良好的进展。然而，仍有一些挑战需要解决，** 可能改善整个生产过程并优化复合材料的性能。这些挑战包括湿木质素在相对较低温度下的脱水，进一步优化工艺以去除产品中木质素的气味，以及开发多样化的产品。这个 **Engage Plus项目旨在通过我们的合作研究 ** 努力解决Domtar的具体挑战。这项研究的成功有望扩大木质素的利用，从而产生具有商业开发潜力的高价值 ** 产品。

This Engage Plus application aims at supporting the further developments of a collaborative research program**between Domtar Inc. and Dr. Ye at Concordia University in developing lignin-polymer composite materials**and processing technologies. Lignin is the second most abundant biopolymer after cellulose. Industrial lignin is**produced as a by-product of pulping mills and bio-refineries and the majority of lignin is burned as a low value**fuel in the recovery boilers. Given its natural abundance and low cost, lignin is a key platform material for the**development of new value-added, bio-based products from existing pulp and paper manufacturing sites and**their forest based supply chains. Numerous potential value-added applications and valorization technologies for**this material have been identified but few if any have been commercialized to date. Domtar, as a world leader**in the development and commercialization of isolated kraft lignin manufacture and marketing, has made good**progress on converting crude lignin powder into dried lignin pellets by extrusion and has used them to make**lignin-thermoplastic compound materials. However, there are still several challenges that need to be addressed,**potentially improve the whole production process and optimize the performance of the composite materials.**These challenges include dewatering of moist lignin at relatively low temperatures, further process**optimization for removal of odor of lignin in the products, and development of diversified products. This**Engage Plus project is aimed at addressing Domtar's specific challenges through our collaborative research**efforts. The success of this research is expected to expand the utilization of lignin, leading to high-value**products having the potential for commercial exploitation.