SBIR Phase II: Trans-esterified Lignin Thermoplastic

这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）二期项目解决了对可负担得起的可降解塑料的需求，以取代石油基塑料。塑料袋是环境的眼中钉，污染水道，杀死野生动物。地方政府现在正在通过法律禁止使用塑料袋，以阻止污染的蔓延。2013年，美国塑料袋市场规模超过106亿美元。虽然社会和政府更加重视从垃圾填埋场转移可堆肥垃圾（占垃圾的25%至40%），但美国人平均每年扔掉1500磅垃圾。由于木质素提取工厂的增加，预计木质素产量将在随后的几年中增加。这些改性木质素树脂的木质素浓度范围取决于应用。利用可堆肥木质素树脂消除塑料废物，使堆肥更容易。使用可堆肥的袋子和衬垫可以消除塑料污染的风险。该项目的目标包括确定改性木质素的理想生产条件，并为各种应用创造配方。这些改性木质素的商业化将有助于缓解影响全国各地市政当局的塑料废物问题。本研究的目的是优化化学改性木质素和热塑性塑料的生产，开发原料木质素和改性木质素的质量控制方法，并创造更多的专有配方，以扩大木质素的应用。一期工程成功实现了改性木质素的规模化生产。第二阶段将继续通过优化物理性质和成本来改进和扩大改性木质素的生产。该优化选择的变量包括反应时间、试剂量和反应温度。开发一个连续的过程也是这项工作的目标。改性木质素与其他热塑性塑料的复合也将优化物理性能和成本。这部分的变量包括螺杆设计、螺杆速度和温度。原料木质素和改性木质素的质量控制方法将根据原料木质素和改性木质素的具体情况，利用现有的分析方法进行开发。此外，配方将扩大，以定制混合物的具体应用。强度，伸长率，模量和成本是决定何种配方应用于特定应用的几个因素。该二期工程的预期结果是优化生产工艺，生产一致的改性木质素。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project addresses the need for affordable compostable plastics to replace petroleum-based plastics. Plastic bags are an environmental eyesore that pollute waterways and kill wildlife. Local governments are now passing laws to ban the use of plastic bags in efforts to hinder the spread of pollution. The U.S. plastic bag market was over $10.6 billion in 2013. While society and government have placed more emphasis on diverting compostable waste (25% to 40% of garbage) from landfills, the average American throws away 1,500 pounds of garbage every year. Lignin output is expected to increase in the ensuing years due to an increase in lignin extraction plants coming on-line. These modified lignin resins range in lignin concentration depending on the application. Utilizing compostable lignin resins eliminates plastic waste and makes composting easier. Using compostable bags and liners removes the risk of plastic contamination. The objectives for this project include the determination of ideal production conditions for modified lignins and the creation of formulations for a variety of applications. The commercialization of these modified lignins will help to alleviate the plastic waste problems that are impacting municipalities across the country.The objectives of this research are to optimize production of chemically modified lignin and thermoplastics, develop quality control methods for raw lignin and modified lignin, and create more proprietary formulations to expand lignin applications. Modified lignins were successfully produced in large scale during the Phase I project. Phase II will continue to improve and expand the modified lignin production by optimizing for physical properties and cost. The variables selected for this optimization include reaction time, reagent quantity, and reaction temperature. Developing a continuous process is also an objective for this effort. Compounding of modified lignin with other thermoplastics will also be optimized for physical properties and cost. The variables for this portion include screw design, screw speed, and temperature. Quality control methods for raw lignin and modified lignin will be developed using existing analytical methods tailored to the specifics of raw lignin and modified lignin. In addition, formulations will be expanded to tailor blends to specific applications. Strength, elongation, modulus, and cost are a few of the factors that determine what formulation should be used for a particular application. The anticipated results of this Phase II project are to optimize the production process and produce consistent modified lignin.