Plastic from plants
FAMU-FSU College of Engineering professor uses material in plant cell walls to make ‘versatile’ polymer.
Left to right: Arijit Ghorai and Ho Yong Chung hold samples of lignin-based polyurethane. The research team used lignin and carbon dioxide to create a new kind of polyurethane that is biodegradable and doesn't contain toxic chemicals
© Scott Holstein/FAMU-FSU College of EngineeringHo Yung Chung, an associate professor in the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, demonstrated the possibility of using lignin, found in plant cell walls, and carbon dioxide to create a new kind of polyurethane.
Chung claims, ‘We’ve created a high-quality polymer using fewer steps, less energy and no toxic ingredients’.
Traditional polyurethane relies on compounds called isocyanates, which are highly reactive and hazardous.
This method skips them entirely. By using the natural polymer lignin, they created a material that is reportedly biodegradable, made from a renewable and underutilised resource and avoids toxic chemicals.
They claim this discovery keeps the benefits of polyurethane but avoids its disadvantages.
The resulting material is reportedly as strong and heat-resistant as conventional versions but dissolves easily in solvents for manufacturing.
The ability to be easily processed gives this material an advantage over other biomass-based alternatives to petroleum-based plastics.
Chung’s previous research has explored the possibilities for using lignin to make other types of environmentally friendly plastics.
This research expands what is possible with lignin by focusing on polyurethane.
