DC6: University of Venice (IT)

Project title

Reversibly crosslinked lignins and lignin polymers

(Co)tutors

• Tutor: C. Crestini (UNIVE)
• Co-Tutor: P. Deuss (RUG)
• Industrial Supervisor: J. Samec (RenFuel)

Objectives

• Develop lignin green modification strategies for i) the introduction of dynamic linkages ii) the control of hydrophilicity and polarity. and iii) to synthesise lignin-based phenolic, and urethane polymers with improved hydrophobicity, and stimuli-triggered assembly/disassembly behaviour
• Synthesis of moldable polyurethanes from hydrophobized lignins
• Synthesis of recyclable phenolic resins from the reversibly polymerized lignins
• Scale-up of selected decorated lignins

Required education level

Master's degree in Chemistry, Materials Science, Environmental Chemistry

Preferred background

Lignin chemistry, organic synthesis, polymer chemistry and materials science

Secondments

• TNO (4 months) scale a selected recyclable epoxy resin or polyurethane (J. Van Hal)

• RenFuel (8 months) scaling and application of the decorated lignins (J. Samec)