Studying the Suitability of Nineteen Lignins as Partial Polyol Replacement in Rigid Polyurethane/Polyisocyanurate Foam

Henry, Christián; Gondaliya, Akash; Thies, Mark; Nejad, Mojgan

doi:10.3390/molecules27082535

Studying the Suitability of Nineteen Lignins as Partial Polyol Replacement in Rigid Polyurethane/Polyisocyanurate Foam

Journal Article · Thu Apr 14 00:00:00 EDT 2022 · Molecules

DOI:https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27082535· OSTI ID:1981173

^[1]; ^[2]; Thies, Mark ^[3]; ^[2]

Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI (United States); Michigan State Univ., East Lansing, MI (United States)
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI (United States)
Clemson University, SC (United States)

In this study, nineteen unmodified lignins from various sources (hardwood, softwood, wheat straw, and corn stover) and isolation processes (kraft, soda, organosolv, sulfite, and enzymatic hydrolysis) were used to replace 30 wt.% of petroleum-based polyol in rigid polyurethane/polyisocyanurate (PUR/PIR) foam formulations. Lignin samples were characterized by measuring their ash content, hydroxyl content (Phosphorus Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy), impurities (Inductively Coupled Plasma), and pH. After foam formulation, properties of lignin-based foams were evaluated and compared with a control foam (with no lignin) via cell morphology, closed-cell content, compression strength, apparent density, thermal conductivity, and color analysis. Lignin-based foams passed all measured standard specifications required by ASTM International C1029-15 for type 1 rigid insulation foams, except for three foams. These three foams had poor compressive strengths, significantly larger cell sizes, darker color, lower closed-cell contents, and slower foaming times. The foam made with corn stover enzymatic hydrolysis lignin showed no significant difference from the control foam in terms of compressive strength and outperformed all other lignin-based foams due to its higher aliphatic and p-hydroxyphenyl hydroxyl contents. Lignin-based foams that passed all required performance testing were made with lignins having higher pH, potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, and aliphatic/p-hydroxyphenyl hydroxyl group contents than those that failed.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Clemson University, SC (United States); Clemson Unversity, SC (United States); Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: 21st Century Jobs Trust; National Institute of Food and Agriculture; USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE); USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Office of Sustainable Transportation. Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO)

Grant/Contract Number:: EE0008502

OSTI ID:: 1981173

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 2004975

Journal Information:: Molecules, Journal Name: Molecules Journal Issue: 8 Vol. 27; ISSN 1420-3049

Publisher:: MDPICopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

References (34)

The kinetics of polyurethane structural foam formation: Foaming and polymerization Rao, Rekha R.; Mondy, Lisa A.; Long, Kevin N. AIChE Journal, Vol. 63, Issue 7 https://doi.org/10.1002/aic.15680	journal	March 2017
Influence of lignin's pH on polyurethane flexible foam formation and how to control it Maillard, Damien; Osso, Esthel; Faye, Adrien Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol. 138, Issue 18 https://doi.org/10.1002/app.50319	journal	December 2020
Lignin Valorization through Catalytic Lignocellulose Fractionation: A Fundamental Platform for the Future Biorefinery Galkin, Maxim V.; Samec, Joseph S. M. ChemSusChem, Vol. 9, Issue 13 https://doi.org/10.1002/cssc.201600237	journal	June 2016
Improved mechanical property, thermal performance, flame retardancy and fire behavior of lignin-based rigid polyurethane foam nanocomposite Gao, Liping; Zheng, Guangyao; Zhou, Yonghong Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, Vol. 120, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-015-4434-2	journal	February 2015
Performance characterization of rigid polyurethane foam with refined alkali lignin and modified alkali lignin Liu, Zhi-ming; Yu, Fei; Fang, Gui-zhen Journal of Forestry Research, Vol. 20, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-009-0028-9	journal	May 2009
Synthesis of bio-based polyurethane foams with liquefied wheat straw: Process optimization Li, Hongwei; (Charles) Xu, Chunbao; Yuan, Zhongshun Biomass and Bioenergy, Vol. 111 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2018.02.011	journal	April 2018
Effect of functionalized lignin on the properties of lignin–isocyanate prepolymer blends and composites Chauhan, Monika; Gupta, M.; Singh, B. European Polymer Journal, Vol. 52 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2013.12.016	journal	March 2014
Development of high-performance biodegradable rigid polyurethane foams using all bioresource-based polyols: Lignin and soy oil-derived polyols Luo, Xiaogang; Xiao, Yuqin; Wu, Qiangxian International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, Vol. 115 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2018.04.126	journal	August 2018
Co-ordination network for lignin—standardisation, production and applications adapted to market requirements (EUROLIGNIN) Gosselink, R. J. A.; de Jong, E.; Guran, B. Industrial Crops and Products, Vol. 20, Issue 2, p. 121-129 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2004.04.015	journal	September 2004
Value-adding to cellulosic ethanol: Lignin polymers Doherty, William O. S.; Mousavioun, Payam; Fellows, Christopher M. Industrial Crops and Products, Vol. 33, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2010.10.022	journal	March 2011
Antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of lignin from residue of corn stover to ethanol production Dong, Xin; Dong, Meidui; Lu, Yingjian Industrial Crops and Products, Vol. 34, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2011.06.002	journal	November 2011
The influence of crude glycerol and castor oil-based polyol on the structure and performance of rigid polyurethane-polyisocyanurate foams Hejna, Aleksander; Kirpluks, Mikelis; Kosmela, Paulina Industrial Crops and Products, Vol. 95 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2016.10.023	journal	January 2017
A concise review of current lignin production, applications, products and their environmental impact Bajwa, D. S.; Pourhashem, G.; Ullah, A. H. Industrial Crops and Products, Vol. 139 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2019.111526	journal	November 2019
High bio-content castor oil based waterborne polyurethane/sodium lignosulfonate composites for environmental friendly UV absorption application Zhang, Wenbo; Zhang, Yi; Liang, Haiyan Industrial Crops and Products, Vol. 142 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2019.111836	journal	December 2019
Advanced biobased and rigid foams, based on urethane-modified isocyanurate from oxypropylated gambier tannin polyol Arbenz, Alice; Frache, Alberto; Cuttica, Fabio Polymer Degradation and Stability, Vol. 132 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2016.03.035	journal	October 2016
Rigid polyurethane foams from a soybean oil-based Polyol Tan, Suqin; Abraham, Tim; Ference, Don Polymer, Vol. 52, Issue 13 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymer.2011.04.040	journal	June 2011
Depolymerization of lignins and their applications for the preparation of polyols and rigid polyurethane foams: A review Mahmood, Nubla; Yuan, Zhongshun; Schmidt, John Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Vol. 60 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2016.01.037	journal	July 2016
Bio-based Polyurethane Foam Made from Compatible Blends of Vegetable-Oil-based Polyol and Petroleum-based Polyol Zhang, Chaoqun; Kessler, Michael R. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, Vol. 3, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.5b00049	journal	March 2015
Novel Rigid Polyisocyanurate Foams from Synthesized Biobased Polyester Polyol with Enhanced Properties Furtwengler, Pierre; Matadi Boumbimba, Rodrigue; Sarbu, Alexandru ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, Vol. 6, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.8b00380	journal	March 2018
Organosolv Ethanol Lignin from Hybrid Poplar as a Radical Scavenger: Relationship between Lignin Structure, Extraction Conditions, and Antioxidant Activity Pan, Xuejun; Kadla, John F.; Ehara, Katsunobu Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, Vol. 54, Issue 16 https://doi.org/10.1021/jf0605392	journal	August 2006
Lignin-Based Rigid Polyurethane Foam Reinforced with Pulp Fiber: Synthesis and Characterization Xue, Bai-Liang; Wen, Jia-Long; Sun, Run-Cang ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, Vol. 2, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1021/sc5001226	journal	May 2014
Hydrolytic depolymerization of corncob lignin in the view of a bio-based rigid polyurethane foam synthesis Xue, Bai-Liang; Huang, Pan-Li; Sun, Yong-Chang RSC Advances, Vol. 7, Issue 10 https://doi.org/10.1039/C6RA26318F	journal	January 2017
Bio-based polyurethane foam preparation employing lignin from corn stalk enzymatic hydrolysis residues Zhu, Shiyun; Chen, Kefu; Xu, Jun RSC Advances, Vol. 8, Issue 28 https://doi.org/10.1039/C8RA01089G	journal	January 2018
Characterization of Biobased Polyurethane Foams Employing Lignin Fractionated from Microwave Liquefied Switchgrass Huang, Xingyan; De Hoop, Cornelis F.; Xie, Jiulong International Journal of Polymer Science, Vol. 2017 https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/4207367	journal	January 2017
Preparation and Characterization of Rigid Polyurethane Foams with Different Loadings of Lignin-Derived Polycarboxylic Acids Wang, Ruiqi; Zhou, Bing; Zhu, Yanchao International Journal of Polymer Science, Vol. 2019 https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/3710545	journal	May 2019
A Simple Transient Method for Measurement of Thermal Conductivity of Rigid Polyurethane Foams Harikrishnan, G.; Macosko, Christopher W. Journal of Cellular Plastics, Vol. 44, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1177/0021955X08096532	journal	November 2008
Effect of replacing polyol by organosolv and kraft lignin on the property and structure of rigid polyurethane foam Pan, Xuejun; Saddler, Jack N. Biotechnology for Biofuels, Vol. 6, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1186/1754-6834-6-12	journal	January 2013
Effect of incorporation of lignin as bio-polyol on the performance of rigid lightweight wood–polyurethane composite foams Luo, Shupin; Gao, Li; Guo, Wenjing Journal of Wood Science, Vol. 66, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1186/s10086-020-01872-5	journal	April 2020
Wheat straw lignin as filler for rigid polyurethane foams on the basis of tall oil amide Paberza, Aiga; Cabulis, Ugis; Arshanitsa, Alexander Polimery, Vol. 59, Issue 06 https://doi.org/10.14314/polimery.2014.477	journal	June 2014
Methods to improve lignin’s reactivity as a phenol substitute and as replacement for other phenolic compounds: A brief review Hu, Lihong; Pan, Hui; Zhou, Yonghong BioResources, Vol. 6, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.15376/biores.6.3.Hu	journal	May 2011
Reactivity of Isocyanate-Functionalized Lignins: A Key Factor for the Preparation of Lignin-Based Polyurethanes Zieglowski, Mareike; Trosien, Simon; Rohrer, Jochen Frontiers in Chemistry, Vol. 7 https://doi.org/10.3389/fchem.2019.00562	journal	August 2019
Reactivity of Aliphatic and Phenolic Hydroxyl Groups in Kraft Lignin towards 4,4′ MDI Antonino, Leonardo Dalseno; Gouveia, Júlia Rocha; de Sousa Júnior, Rogério Ramos Molecules, Vol. 26, Issue 8 https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26082131	journal	April 2021
Lignin-Based Polyurethanes: Opportunities for Bio-Based Foams, Elastomers, Coatings and Adhesives Alinejad, Mona; Henry, Christián; Nikafshar, Saeid Polymers, Vol. 11, Issue 7 https://doi.org/10.3390/polym11071202	journal	July 2019
Assessment of Photodegradation and Biodegradation of RPU/PIR Foams Modified by Natural Compounds of Plant Origin Liszkowska, Joanna; Borowicz, Marcin; Paciorek-Sadowska, Joanna Polymers, Vol. 12, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12010033	journal	December 2019

Similar Records

Fractionated and purified hybrid poplar lignins as a polyol replacement in rigid polyurethane/polyisocyanurate foams

Journal Article · Fri Sep 01 20:00:00 EDT 2023 · Journal of Applied Polymer Science · OSTI ID:2004978

Related Subjects

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
biobased
lignin
low-density
polyisocyanurate
polyol
polyurethane
rigid foam
thermal insulation

Studying the Suitability of Nineteen Lignins as Partial Polyol Replacement in Rigid Polyurethane/Polyisocyanurate Foam

Citation Formats

References (34)

Similar Records

Related Subjects