SBIR Phase I: Trans-esterified Lignin Thermoplastic

SBIR 第一阶段：酯交换木质素热塑性塑料

• 批准号: 1248750
• 负责人: NHIEM CAO
• 金额: $ 15万
• 依托单位: Cyclewood Solutions, Inc
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2013
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2013-01-01 至 2013-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1248750&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: SBIR; Phase; Trans; esterified; Lignin

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.

这个小企业创新研究第一阶段项目解决了对经济实惠的生物基塑料替代石油基材料的需求。本研究的目的是证明化学改性木质素和热塑性塑料之间强大的分子间相互作用，证明酯交换的最佳条件，证明聚酯和聚苯乙烯的机械性能增强，并证明放大的可行性。这项研究有两个主要组成部分，又分为其他主要任务。第一个部分是通过酯交换反应来改进木质素热塑性共混物的实验测试。这是通过制备化学改性木质素并尝试将其以各种共混比例与聚酯进行酯交换来完成的。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。大量的酯交换产物将使用小型工业制造设备生产。 生产过程将包括优化高效制造实践以实现可扩展性的步骤。该第一阶段项目的预期结果是创建一种酯交换木质素/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，并且可以进行商业规模生产。该项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力解决了美国塑料袋和薄膜市场日益严重的问题。塑料袋是一种环境碍眼的东西，会污染水道并杀死野生动物。地方政府目前正在通过法律禁止使用塑料袋，以阻止污染的蔓延。 2010 年美国塑料袋市场规模为 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。尽管社会和政府更加重视减少或更换高密度聚乙烯 (HDPE) 购物袋，但这些购物袋仍然广受欢迎，仅在美国每年消耗的购物袋就超过 1000 亿个。由于纤维素乙醇工厂的投产和造纸工艺的提高，预计未来几年木质素产量将增加。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。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。