NREL of US Energy Dept. to plan conversion of lignin into valuable products

National Renewable Energy Laboratory of the US Energy Dept. suggests conversion of lignin into useful products. According to the researches of the group, a new method for upgrading this bio-based polymer into useful chemicals, fuels and materials has been researched. Lignin is an aromatic polymer found in cell wall of plants for making it strong. As depolymerization of this substance is not possible it cannot be employed for manufacturing of valuable products in its degraded form. That’s why the company is now planning to upgrade it directly into useful products.

Gregg Beckham, Senior Engineer at NREL stated that in general bio-refineries produce more lignin than requirement for conversion of cellulosic biomass into liquid fuel; the extra amount of lignin is used for power. The leftover amount of lignin is now being subjected for production of useful products through well planned strategies.

Know more about the deal here at – http://www.processingmagazine.com/articles/127835-us-researchers-highlight-possibilities-for-lignin-use

Research programs are also based upon the planning of using culture of organisms that utilize lignin; those organisms can be introduced into biological conversion process of the polymer. In this way, the heterogeneity of lignin can be overcome and various kinds of materials can be derived from lignocelluloses biomass. The value added products formed through lignin can involve low cost carbon fiber, thermoplastic elastomer and variety of fuels and chemicals.

Elastomer to increase its demand on global level in 2014

Elastomer, the thermoplastic of North America is highly in demand this year as it participated in good growth of the automotive sector. According to Robert Eller, the consultant, the rate of demand of this thermoplastic is greater than the last year now as it is doing better form economic point of view. When it comes upon discussion about the international market, China and India are the two countries where the product has shown its largest automotive potential. About 20 million new vehicles in these countries are efficient to create over 110 million pounds of new styrenic block copolymer demand within 10 years and thermoplastic vulcanizate.

Read full story about the matter here at - http://www.rubbernews.com/article/20140728/ISSUE/307289976/automotive-to-drive-future-growth-for-tpes

On the other hand, Europe is facing decrease in the demand of TPE due to declines car sales. Actually, the customer community in the country lost appetite of cars as Europe possesses super developed non auto transport system. Growth of copolyester is based upon the requirement of bioplastics and electronics so thermoplastic polyurethane resins and foam can check increased demand in this direction.

According to Eller, TPE substances can be simply employed for some potential applications such as encapsulation seals, air duct cuffs and heat resistant materials.