Lignin as a potential alternative for fossil-based styrene polymers

To replace the fossil-based unsustainable plastic materials by bio-based ones from sustainable sources, is one of the most critical challenges facing the polymer scientists. The UT led consortium “BioStyrene” with five partners is aiming to specifically replace fossil-based styrene found is many common materials by lignin-based alternatives. Wood contains ca 30% of lignin and this is the main source for aromatic compounds found in nature.
Beside UT, the consortium consists of St-Petersburg State Forest Technical University and three industrial partners: Vapa (producer of paints, Russia), Plastpolymer (producer of various polystyrene-based plastics, Russia) and TBD Biodiscovery (scale-up company, Tartu).

This work has been funded by the Estonia-Russia cross-border program (grant no ER30) and is carried out 2019-2022.

For more information, please contact Lauri Vares (lauri.vares [ät] ut.ee).