Iowa State University Research Foundation Inc

Xianglan Bai

Eric William Cochran

Yuerui Huang

Yixin Luo

Wangda Qu

Shuai Zhou

One aspect of the present application relates to a method of synthesizing a thermoplastic polymer. This method includes providing a depolymerized lignin product comprising monomers and oligomers and producing lignin (meth)acrylate monomers and oligomers from the depolymerized lignin product. A thermoplastic lignin (meth)acrylate polymer is then formed by free radical polymerization of the lignin (meth)acrylate monomers and oligomers. The present application also relates to a branched chain thermoplastic lignin (meth)acrylate polymer which includes a chain transfer agent. The thermoplastic lignin based polymers of the present application can be used to prepare carbon fibers, and engineering thermoplastics. Mixtures of lignin (meth)acrylate monomers and oligomers are also disclosed.

Thermoplastic polymers synthesized from depolymerized lignin via free radical polymerization

One aspect of the present invention relates to a method of modifying thermoplastic properties of lignin rich biomass to reduce agglomeration during any subsequent pyrolysis. The method comprises providing a lignin rich biomass and treating the lignin rich biomass with an alkali metal hydroxide or an alkaline earth metal hydroxide under conditions effective to reduce agglomeration, during any subsequent pyrolysis, compared to when the lignin rich biomass is not subjected to said treating. Also disclosed is a method of fast pyrolysis using the product of this method of modifying the thermoplastic properties of lignin rich biomass.

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Ames, IA, United States of America

Xianglan Bai