Polyols and rigid polyurethane foams derived from lignin side-streams of the pulp and paper industry

• Main Author: Fernandes, Isabel P.
• Publication Date: 2016
• Other Authors: Pinto, João A., Gomes, Elson, Oliveira, Cátia F., Pinto, Paula C.R., Mesquita, L.M.R., Piloto, P.A.G., Rodrigues, Alírio, Barreiro, M.F.
• Language: eng
• Source: Repositórios Científicos de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (RCAAP)
• Download full: http://hdl.handle.net/10198/14094
• topic: Lignin valorisation; integrated process; Biopolyols; Polyurethane rigid foams

Lignin is one of the major components of the side-streams of the pulp and paper industries and of the emerging lignocellulosic biore neries. Find new strategies for lignin valorisation, apart from e vironmental issues, will contribute to close the lignocellulosic value-chain. In this context, this work will focus on the synthesis of polyols through oxypropylation and their subsequent incorporation into rigid polyurethane (RPU) foam formulations. Two E. globulus lignin streams were tested: (i) lignin isolated from industrial kraft liquor and (ii) depolymerized lignin resulting from an oxidation process developed at the LA LSRE-LCM to produce vanillin and syringaldehyde. This work is therefore part of the LA LSRE-LCM global strategy towards the consolidation of the integrated process to valorise lignin from the kraft pulp industry, which accounts with more than 25 years of experience.