A strong, biodegradable and recyclable lignocellulosic bioplastic

Qinqin Xia, Chaoji Chen, Yonggang Yao, Jianguo Li, Shuaiming He, Yubing Zhou, Teng Li, Xuejun Pan, Yuan Yao () and Liangbing Hu ()
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Qinqin Xia: University of Maryland
Chaoji Chen: University of Maryland
Yonggang Yao: University of Maryland
Jianguo Li: University of Maryland
Shuaiming He: University of Maryland
Yubing Zhou: University of Maryland
Teng Li: University of Maryland
Xuejun Pan: University of Wisconsin-Madison
Yuan Yao: Yale University
Liangbing Hu: University of Maryland

Nature Sustainability, 2021, vol. 4, issue 7, 627-635

Abstract: Abstract Renewable and biodegradable materials derived from biomass are attractive candidates to replace non-biodegradable petrochemical plastics. However, the mechanical performance and wet stability of biomass are generally insufficient for practical applications. Herein, we report a facile in situ lignin regeneration strategy to synthesize a high-performance bioplastic from lignocellulosic resources (for example, wood). In this process, the porous matrix of natural wood is deconstructed to form a homogeneous cellulose–lignin slurry that features nanoscale entanglement and hydrogen bonding between the regenerated lignin and cellulose micro/nanofibrils. The resulting lignocellulosic bioplastic shows high mechanical strength, excellent water stability, ultraviolet-light resistance and improved thermal stability. Furthermore, the lignocellulosic bioplastic has a lower environmental impact as it can be easily recycled or safely biodegraded in the natural environment. This in situ lignin regeneration strategy involving only green and recyclable chemicals provides a promising route to producing strong, biodegradable and sustainable lignocellulosic bioplastic as a promising alternative to petrochemical plastics.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1038/s41893-021-00702-w

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