SUPERVISOR: Georg GÜBITZ

PROJECT ASSIGNED TO: Miguel JIMENEZ BARTOLOME

Starch-based glues are widely used in many industrial and home applications. However, for certain purposes a higher wet-strength would be desirable. Incorporation of more hydrophobic biopolymers could improve the performance of starch based bioglues. Lignin, a by-product of the pulp and paper industry, is the second most abundant biopolymer on the planet. Despite its abundance and cheap value, only 2% of the 50 million tons of lignin produced each year are used for value-added applications. Lignin can be processed using physical, chemical or biological methods. In this project, enzymatic polymerization will be assessed to produce polymers suitable to improve the wet-strength of starch-based bioglues.

Fig. 1. Sample of polymerized lignosulfonate containing bio-plasticizer.