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Hydrogen-bonded lignin-acrylic copolymer/WPU composites with Integrated UV shielding, antioxidancy and degradability
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Researchers synthesized a lignin-acrylic copolymer from rice straw waste and blended it with waterborne polyurethane to create a composite film with 43% higher tensile strength, near-total UV blocking, and dramatically improved antioxidant capacity, offering a biodegradable, microplastic-reducing alternative to conventional plastic films.
To address the poor degradability and stability of traditional polyurethanes, and the low dispersibility hindering high-value use of industrial lignin, in this study, lignin extracted from rice straw and acrylic acid (AA) were employed as raw materials to synthesize a lignin-acrylic acid copolymer (LAC) with a high lignin content and a disordered network structure via a hydrothermal crosslinking reaction using potassium persulfate (KPS) as the initiator under alkaline conditions. Through physical blending with waterborne polyurethane (WPU), LAC/WPU composite films (LACW) were fabricated, establishing an interpenetrating hydrogen-bonded network. This structure confers multifunctional enhancements: for the representative 40 % LACW composite, this structure confers multifunctional enhancements: the tensile strength increases by ~43 % (0.47 → 0.67 MPa) versus pure WPU, the radical scavenging capacity shows a dramatic increase of over 350 % (16 % → 74 %, DPPH assay), and it offers near-total UV shielding (>99 % blocking efficiency across 280-400 nm). By converting agricultural waste into high-performance additives, this work establishes a scalable paradigm for lignin valorization, simultaneously mitigating microplastic pollution and advancing circular materials design with demonstrable economic and ecological benefits.
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Citric-acid-crosslinked starch/polyvinyl alcohol composite films reinforced with sodium lignosulfonate for sustainable packaging applications
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Researchers developed starch/PVA composite films crosslinked with citric acid and reinforced with sodium lignosulfonate, finding that the aromatic lignin component simultaneously enhanced mechanical stiffness, cut water vapor transmission, blocked nearly all UV light, and raised antioxidant activity to 90% — combining multiple packaging functions in a single biodegradable film.
Constructing robust and antioxidant polyurethane–lignin coatings with biodegradable properties for grass press paper films
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This study developed polyurethane coatings incorporating lignin to create robust, antioxidant surface treatments with biodegradable characteristics, testing mechanical durability and antioxidant performance. The lignin-modified coatings showed improved oxidative stability while maintaining protective properties.
Easily Processable Thermoplastic Microcomposites with Enhanced UV Shielding Performance Based on Anionic Polyamide 6 and Sulfonated Lignin
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Researchers mixed a plant-based material called sulfonated lignin into a plastic called polyamide 6 to create a blended material. In lab testing, adding up to 5% lignin greatly improved the material's ability to block UV light, though it also somewhat reduced its strength.
All-biodegradable soy protein isolate/lignin composite cross-linked by oxidized sucrose as agricultural mulch films for green farming
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Researchers developed an all-biodegradable mulch film made from soy protein, lignin, and oxidized sucrose as a green alternative to conventional plastic agricultural films. The film demonstrated improved tensile strength, UV-shielding capability, moisture retention, and controlled fertilizer release properties. Field tests showed higher cabbage seed germination rates compared to traditional polyethylene film, suggesting this bio-based material could reduce microplastic generation from agricultural practices.
Biodegradable UV-Protective Composite Film from Cellulosic Waste: Utilisation of Cotton Gin Motes as Biocomponent
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Researchers developed biodegradable composite films by compounding cotton gin mote waste powder (up to 50% by weight) with polycaprolactone (PCL) and polyethylene glycol plasticizer, using a solvent-free melt extrusion process. The resulting films exhibited UV-shielding properties from lignin in the cotton waste, with 9.5 MPa yield strength and 442% elongation, offering a renewable alternative to non-biodegradable plastic films.
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