AVS 62nd International Symposium & Exhibition
    Biomaterial Interfaces Tuesday Sessions
       Session BI-TuP

Paper BI-TuP1
Flash Networking Poster: Simple Method Toward Lignin Based Surface Coatings

Tuesday, October 20, 2015, 6:30 pm, Room Hall 3

Session: Biomaterial Interfaces Poster Session
Presenter: Patrick Burch, University of California at Berkeley
Authors: P. Burch, University of California at Berkeley
P.B. Messersmith, University of California at Berkeley
Correspondent: Click to Email
Lignin is the second most abundant biopolymer on earth. Millions of tons are produced annually as a byproduct of the paper industry but yet its use is limited to mostly low-value applications, such as concrete additives or fuel for paper mills. Significant research efforts are devoted towards the disruption of lignin into its monomers with the aim to create high-value applications. This task remains challenging due to the heterogeneity of lignin and the harsh conditions needed to degrade the covalent bonds linking the monomers together. Our approach instead takes advantage of this intrinsic stability of lignin by further polymerizing lignin building blocks on surfaces to form organic coatings. These coatings consequently alter the surface properties of these substrates in a simple, scalable, versatile and renewable fashion.