LIGNOSULFONATES AND VANILLIL ALCOHOL AS PRECURSORS OF EPOXI RESINS

• Grant number: 23/02415-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: November 01, 2023
• End date: October 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Andre Luis Ferraz
• Grantee: Danielle Herbst Sanday
• Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia de Lorena (EEL). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Lorena , SP, Brazil

Abstract

One of the current challenges for biorefineries is to diversify products beyond liquid fuelsand process energy. New products from plant biomass can aggregate value to the productionchain and boost the commercial implementation of biorefineries. Some biorefinery modelsderived from traditional pulp and paper industry (alkaline sulfite process, for example) cangenerate sulfonated lignin (or lignosulfonates) as a byproduct. This form of lignin is water-soluble, presenting potential use as adhesive by replacing bisphenol A in the production of epoxyresins. In this sense, the present project aims to evaluate the preparation of epoxylatedlignosulfonates and its cross-link with triethylene tetramine to form thermoset polymers with adhesive capacity for wooden planks. The epoxylation reactions depend on the availability of free phenolic hydroxyls on the lignosulfonates which can be a limiting aspect for the process.Therefore, we aim to study the condensation of vanillyl alcohol (4-hydroxy 3-methoxybenzylalcohol) and lignosulfonates by acid route to generate precursors rich in phenolic hydroxylssusceptible to the epoxylation reactions. The generated material will be characterized byspectroscopic techniques and used in cross-link with triethylene tetramine to form thermosetresins that will be tested on wood bonding. The results of the project will show the viability andthe limiting conditions of using lignosulfonates in the preparation of epoxy adhesives.