Plant-based substitute for fossil fuels developed for plastic foams

A Washington State University-led research team used an environmentally-friendly preparation of lignin as a substitute for 20% of the fossil fuel-based chemicals in the foam. The bio-based foam was as strong and flexible as typical polyurethane foam. Lignin is the second most abundant renewable carbon source, making up about 30% of the non-fossil fuel-based carbon on Earth. So most lignin is either burned to produce fuel and electricity or used in low-value products, such as for cement additives or as a binder in animal feed. When they tested their formulation, their product was stable and performed as well mechanically as the conventional foams. The interest in developing lignin-based polyurethane (PU) flexible foam work was also validated by industrial partners. Zhang’s team will now work with the industrial partners to optimize and scale up lignin PU foam production.

Source: Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture