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.

这个小型企业创新研究阶段项目解决了负担得起的生物基塑料以取代石油基材料的需求。这项研究的目的是证明化学修饰的木质素和热塑性塑料之间的强烈分子间相互作用，证明了跨酯化的最佳条件，表明了聚酯和聚苯乙烯的机械性能增强，并证明了扩大可行性。这项研究有两个主要组成部分，分为其他主要任务。第一个组成部分是对持续酯化的实验测试，以改善木质素热塑性混合物。这是通过准备化学修饰的木质素并试图以各种混合比例与聚酯纤维进行酯交换来完成的。接下来，将生成样品进行分析以确定物理和机械性能。第二部分是确保制造过程和材料的商业生存能力。将使用小规模的工业制造设备生产大量的式产品。 生产过程将包括优化有效制造实践的步骤以进行可伸缩。该阶段I项目的预期结果是创建一个固定的木质素/聚酯产品，该产品具有相等或更好的机械和物理性能，可与聚酯或聚苯乙烯相等或更好的物理性能，可以以商业规模生产。该项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力解决了美国塑料袋和电影市场的日益增长的问题。塑料袋是一种环保的眼光，可污染水道并杀死野生动植物。地方政府现在正在通过法律禁止使用塑料袋，以阻止污染的传播。 2010年，美国塑料袋市场为86亿美元。此外，到2015年，生物塑料市场预计将超过三倍至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，但这些袋子仍然很受欢迎，仅美国每年就消耗了超过1000亿个袋子。由于纤维素乙醇植物在线和更有效的造纸工艺的增加，预计随后几年的木质素产量将增加。固定的木质素树脂将取决于木质素浓度，具体取决于施用。树脂的成分可以完全可生物降解或与常规塑料相结合，以创建可持续的混合物。为该项目进行的实验将确定生产持续木质素产品所需的理想条件和材料。还将进行实验以将过程扩展到商业规模。