Laccase-facilitated synthesis of hyperbranched lignin polymers

International Conference and Exhibition on Polymer Chemistry

November 14-16, 2016 Atlanta, USA

Mark D Cannatelli and Arthur J Ragauskas

Georgia Institute of Technology, USA

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Material Sci Eng

Abstract :

Lignin is one of the major chemical constituents of woody biomass and is thus one of the most abundant biopolymers found in nature. The pulp and paper industry produces lignin on the scale of millions of tons annually as a by-product of the kraft pulping process. Historically, lignin has been viewed as a waste material and burned as an inefficient fuel for the pulping process. However, in recent decades, research has focused on more economical ways to transform lignin into value added commodities, such as bioenergy, biomaterials, and biochemicals, developing and strengthening the concept of fully integrated biorefineries. Owing to the highly aromatic structure of lignin, it is possible to enzymatically modify its surface using laccases (benzenediol:oxygen oxidoreductases, EC 1.10.3.2). These environmentally friendly enzymes use oxygen as their only co-substrate and produce water as their sole by-product, and have thus found great industrial application. By grafting various hydroquinone monomers (A2) onto the surface of kraft lignin via laccase-catalyzed coupling reactions, it is then possible to attach branching thiol monomers (B3) onto the surface quinones. Further copolymerization of the type A2-B3-A2-B3 and so forth is achieved via laccase-generated quinones (A2) to produce hyperbranched lignin polymers. The presented is a sustainable, ecofriendly, economic method to create exciting novel biomaterials from renewable feedstocks while further enhancing lignin valorization.

Biography :

Email: mcannatelli3@gatech.edu