Overview
This research takes the lignin stream from CELF treatment of model feedstocks poplar wood and corn stover is intercepted as an intermediate for valorization. Specific lignin precursors are recovered by distillative lignin fractionation to isolate components best suited for producing value-added renewable lignin-polyurethane (lignin-PU). The lignin-PU is targeted for value-added markets of polyurethanes including foam and films, and we will develop a "market pull" for the products based on cost, anti-oxidant/flammability, UV-stability, and antibacterial properties.
Although not the focus of this research, the biomass carbohydrates can yield more than 65% furfural and HMF that can be hydrodeoxygenated to gasoline blendstocks. Importantly, furfural is the only renewable fuel precursor that can also serve as a chemical precursor for the production of THF in the CELF reaction, allowing this system to be operated in “closed-loop” with full solvent recycle. Thus, THF can be produced on site from biomass-derived furfural from the CELF process at very high yields (>90%) as a renewable alternative to fossil-derived maleic anhydride process. Furthermore, THF is also widely known used commercially as a plasticizer solvent for commercial PU production, which will be further developed in this proposal to recycle our lignin-PUs, providing an additional layer of synergism.
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