Lignin nanoparticle synthesis
| DWPI Title: Producing lignin nanoparticles by mechanically reducing a particle size of lignin particles, exposing lignin particles to a diazonium precursor comprising a functional group, and combining the lignin particles with a polymeric material |
| Abstract: A method including reducing a particle size of lignin particles to an average particle size less than 40 nanometers; after reducing the particle size, combining the lignin particles with a polymeric material; and forming a structure of the combination. A method including exposing lignin to a diazonium precursor including a functional group; modifying the lignin by introducing the functional group to the lignin; and combining the modified lignin with a polymeric material to form a composite. An apparatus including a composite of a polymer and lignin wherein the lignin has an average particle size less than 100 micrometers. |
| Use: The method is useful for the synthesis of lignin nanoparticles, and for forming a tire (claimed). |
| Advantage: The method efficiently produces lignin nanoparticles having improved reinforcing property which can be used in forming a tire. Also, the synthesized lignin nanoparticles may be combined with other polymeric materials as a reinforcing agent in the formation of other structures including, but not limited to, synthetic plastics (e.g. molded plastic structures) and biocompatible synthetic or biopolymers in medical applications (e.g. drug delivery devices or drug delivery agents). |
| Novelty: A method involving: mechanically reducing a particle size of lignin particles to an average particle size less than 40 nm; after or during mechanically reducing the particle size, exposing lignin particles to a diazonium precursor comprising a functional group, thus losing nitrogen (N2) from the diazonium precursor and generating a radical form of the precursor, and then reacting the radical form with lignin particles; and after mechanically reducing the particle size, combining the lignin particles with a polymeric material. |
| Filed: 8/29/2012 |
| Application Number: US13597928A |
| Tech ID: SD 12033.0 |
| This invention was made with Government support under Contract No. DE-NA0003525 awarded by the United States Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration. The Government has certain rights in the invention. |
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