Progress 02/01/24 to 01/31/25
Outputs
Target Audience:The intended audience for this project duration included members of the science and engineering community, collaborators within the pulp, paper, and molded product industry, and consumers in the United States who use disposable dinnerware. The project holds particular significance for individual engaged in the conversion of the biomass components into valuable materials and chemicals. Our primary focus revolved around advancing Research & Development endeavors. Additionally we conducted a virtual survey targeting 851 domestic consumers who had acquired disposable dinnerware in the last 12 months. A key objective was to enlighten these consumers about the presence of PFAS (Per-and Polyfluorinated susbstances) coatings in disposable dinnerware and their adverse impacts on both the environment and human health. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project facilitated a one week training program focused on molded fiber production using Kiefel thermoforming technology. This hands-on training with Kiefel technology experts provided a valuable insight into advanced molded fiber production techniques and enhanced the particpants technical skills and knowledge in sustainable packaging. The project also offered an opportunities to extract lignin on a large scale from black liquor at the Forest Product Laboratory, Madison, WI and a two days training at the Thermoforming Molded Fiber Symposium held at the University of Maine, where more than 100 participants from packaging industries discussed the current challenges and future prospects of molded fiber products. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The research findings addressing high-cost issues during the production of nanolignin and potential applications were presented at an international conference processing technologies for the Forest & Biobased Products Industries where it attracted the interest of biorefineries, process engineers, and researchers who are involved in the biomass-based chemicals, fuels, and materials development. The research findings of were also presented during Circular Bioeconomy System and Frontiers in Biorefinery Conference.The conducted consumer survey used a short informercial which educated 851 individuals about PFAS coatings and bio-based, eco-friendly consumer goods. Video presentations about biobased products, that were produced by students attending the "Rooted in Science" program, were disseminated to the public. These presentations are also openly accessible through our departmental website; https://crc.tennessee.edu/rooted-in-science/. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?During the upcoming project period, the team will develop and optimize the LMNP and modified lignin coating with our industrial partners and scale up LMNP and modified lignin incorporated molded fiber prototypes. We will also develop a dry-forming method to fabricate fiber-lignin composites, aiming to conserve water and energy while enhancing production efficiency. We will continue to investigate LMNP and modified lignin coating, and wet-end additives to replace PFAS in molded fiber products. Additionally we will assess the performance of molded fiber and packaging products. Co-PD Nair will work the current Genera black liquor for fractionating lignin micro-and nano particles (LMNP) by using two stage membrane cascade. Their team will oversee the coordination of students and faculty engaged in circular packaging and bio-based products. Additionally, they will promote interest among the pulp and paper industry partners of the Renewable Bioproducts Institute at GT.At the outreach front, Co-PD Rihn will conduct an analysis to quantify consumer preference and willingness-to-pay for molded dinnerware with varying attributes. The collected data will undergo examination to determine the presence of distinct consumer groups (segments) in the market place. This effort aims to enhance the effectiveness of communicating the information to specific customer groups. PD-Labbé will co-organize a CBS (Circular Bioeconomy System) workshop at theUniversity of Tennessee, Knoxville, such that it will bring together the general public, research experts, and packaging manufacturers to educate them about the importance of bio-based and ecofriendly consumer goods.At the education front, we will offer a component of theRooted in Science (RIS)course during the summer of 2025, this will be a one-day workshop for junior researchers who work on circular bioeconomy systems at the University of Tennessee.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
During the last project period, we usedmembrane technology toisolated lignin fractions from biorefinery steams provided by our industry partner andproduced LMNP modified using siloxane moieties.Specifically, we are targetting PFAS free coating solutions for thermoforming trays. We evaluated these lignins as a main material to form a coating film on paper surface. The coated paper had a water contact angle of 125° and oil contact angle of 71°. Additonally, following industrial standards, we evaluated the performance of our thermoforming trays coated with the modified lignin. All coated samples successfully retained water and oil without any staining on the opposite side of the trays, thereby passing the test. We have also successfully fabricated tunable reduced graphene oxide (rGO) membranes with different lignin molecular weight cutoffs (MWCOs) and demonstrated a two-stage membrane cascade that fractionates broad lignin molecular weight distribution black liquors into three lignin-rich streams of different molecular weight ranges. We scaled up these membranes to produce several gallons fractionated products for the team.We also tested a pure lignin film on base paper to create a water- and oil-resistant paper composite after optimizing hot-pressing parameters, including temperature, pressure, and the moisture content of the LMNP suspension prior to pressing. The optimal conditions produced a lignin-paper composite capable of resisting water for over 60 minutes and oil for more than 25 minutes. To address consumer concerns regarding the dark color of lignin, we developed a sandwich method. In this approach, a lignin-PVA-PLA composite layer was embedded between two layers of paper. By optimizing the composition of this composite, we determined that a formulation of 60% lignin, 30% PVA, and 10% PLA achieved the best performance, providing resistance to both water and oil for over 60 minutes, and tensile strength more than 45 MPa.For the first time, we successfully synthesized a lignin-based resin (provisional patent application) and then prepared oil-resistant papers using a lignin-based resin. We also produced a lignin-based resin using kraft lignin, and regular folder paper was coated with different thicknesses of the prepared resin, dried and pressed at various temperatures for different durations. Our results indicated that regardless of pressing time and temperature, coating paper with a suitable amount of resin can effectively block oil and meet the industry's requirements. When 120 µm of prepared resin is used, the coated paper can block the hot oil (65 °C) for more than 40 min and bring about kit number to 12. Overall, we are tackling the main problem faced by biorefineries, i.e., lignin isolation and value addition. Developing lignin-based amphiphobic coatings for paper and molded fiber products will have the dual advantage of valorizing a by-product stream (i.e., lignin in black liquor) and finding an eco-friendly alternative to PFAS. We are also tackling the issue of developing a cost-effective process for lignin isolation from black liquor. We have already determined a reasonable upper and lower bounds of lignin molecular weight fractionation and separation efficiency characteristics in membrane-based fractionation schemes. These findings will form the basis for designing membranes to recover a range of intermediate lignin fractions from black liquor. Overall, in the past project period, our team has successfully tackled the technoeconomic and fundamental aspects of lignin isolation, lignin modification, and lignin-based amphiphobic coating development for paper products from industrial lignin sources. By partnering with pulp and molded fiber producers, and based on the inputs from our industrial partners, we are keeping abreast of industrial trends and incorporating techno-economic feasibility in our product and process design. At the extension front, we studied the preference of consumers in order to predict their acceptance of bio-based, lignin-based, and ecofriendly molded pulp products. We designed an online survey instrument and collected data on consumers preferences and willingness-to-pay for molded dinnerware displaying different attributes (e.g., PFAS treatment and plant based treatment). Participants were 18+ year old, had purchased disposable dinnerware within past year, and were a grocery shopper for the household. A total of 851 US consumers passed the qualification questions and completed the 2024 survey. Premilinary findings suggest that consumers perceive PFAS treatment as riskier to their own health and the environment relative to bio-based treatments. They perceived PFAS alternatives as a viable meaning of gaining credence(e.g., environmental) benefits to their disposable dinnerware and to go containers. Consumers primarily purchase disposable dinnerware made of paper for everyday use (vs. events/special occasions), indicating practical and sustainable alternatives may improve customer acceptance due to heightened exposure due to frequent use. They expressed low awareness and knowledge of industry specific jargon (e.g., lignin, PFAS) indicating a need for more user-friendly language and educational information. Furthermore, to go container material (plastic, molded fiber, Styrofoam) influenced participants' perceptions of food quality, health and environmental commitment with molded fiber improving these perceptions. To go containers that were reusable were also desired. Together, the results highlight areas that the disposable dinnerware and to go container industries could focus on in future product development and marketing strategies as they phase out PFAS treatments on their products. One manuscript was published related to Consumer's perceptions of per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances and bio-based treatments on disposable dinnerware at Journal of Agriculture and Food Research. A second manuscript is being submitted which analyzed the consumer preferences for per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances versus bio-based treatments of disposable dinnerware: A discreate choice experiment at Journal of Agriculture and Applied Economics. Generally, participents were willing to pay more for molded dinnerware with bio-based alternatives treatments than those with PFAS treatments. Environment related information resulted in a 61% premium for bio-based plate treatments relative to the control (no information) while personal health information generated a 51% premium for the same product compared to the control. Results suggest using bio-based treatments can generate a premium for molded plates and that premium is amplified when given more information about potential detrimental effects to the environment or ones health. At the education front, theRooted in Science (RIS)course was offered during the summer of 2024. Seven doctoral students with backgrounds and interests in energy science and engineering, polymer science, chemistry, chemical engineering, and natural resources participated.Three faculty members were associated with the course. The course was expanded to six weeks to facilitate student learning and accommodate students' research and other demands. Course changes were introduced based on the prior two years' experiences, student and student mentors' feedback, faculty reflections and research, and staff input.Content on disseminating research findings to public and professional audiences and associated techniques was added.Additional emphasis was placed on public speaking and improving student research videos.Radio interviews in the local NPR station studio were added.The OpEd assignment, coordinated by Dr. Carole Myers, was retained, and students were given more time to complete their assignments. The course concluded with a showcase featuring student research videos and a celebration with faculty members and grant staff.
Publications
- Type:
Peer Reviewed Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
Rihn, A., Labb�, N., Rajan, K., Kamboj, G., Jackson, S., Tiller, K., Jensen, K. (2024). Consumers perceptions of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and bio-based treatments on disposable dinnerware. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research, 18, 101436. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafr.2024.101436
- Type:
Peer Reviewed Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
Zhou, Z., Rajan, K., Saedi, S., Labb�, N., Li, M., Wang, W.,� Wang, S. (2024). A fully plant-based water- and oil-resistant paper composite. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering (in print). DOI: 10.1021/acssuschemeng.4c06079.
- Type:
Peer Reviewed Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
Zhou, Z., Rajan, K., Labb�, N., Wang, S. (2024). Significantly reducing energy consumption during nanolignin production via high-solid content grinding. Industrial Crops & Products, 211: 118209. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2024.118209.
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Progress 02/01/23 to 01/31/24
Outputs
Target Audience:The intended audience for this project duration included members of the science and engineering community, collaborators within the pulp, paper, and molded product industry, and consumers in the United States who use disposable dinnerware. The project holds particular significance for individual engaged in the conversion of the biomass components into valuable materials and chemicals. Our primary focus revolved around advanced Research & Developments endeavors. Additionally we conducted a virtual survey targeting 1,304 domestic consumers who had acquired disposable dinnerware in the last 12 months. A key objective was to enlighten these consumers about the presence of PFAS (Per-and Polyfluorinated susbstances) coatings in disposable dinnerware and their adverse impacts on both the environment and human health. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Two new postdoctoral researchers have been hired and trained to produce and characterize LMNP, chemically modified LMNP, and coated molded fiber products. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Our project findings have been published in various scientific journals and presented at international conferences. For examples, the research findings addressing high-cost issues during the production of nanolignin and potential applications were presented at an international conferencefor the Forest & Biobased Products Industrieswhere it attracted the interest of biorefineries, process engineers, and researchers who are involved in the biomass-based chemicals, fuels, and materials development. The researchfindingsabout consumer preference were presented at theAAEA Annual Meeting and Conference, aforum that attracted the interest of researchers in the arts and communication fields in addition to the above-mentioned stakeholders. The consumer survey was also used for a short informercial which educated 1304 individuals about PFAS coatings and bio-based, eco-friendly consumer goods.At the education front, the vidoes developed by graduate students during theRooted in Science (RIS)course during the May 2023 session were posted on You Tube and areopenly accessible through our departmental website:https://crc.tennessee.edu/rooted-in-science/ What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?During the upcoming project period, the team will develop and optimize the LMNP coating with our industrial partners and scale up LMNP incorporated molded fiber prototypes. We will investigate LMNP coating, and modify LMNP using cationic surfactants and use it as a wet-end additive in addition to lignin surface coating in order to enhance oil resistance of the fiber products. Additionally we will assess the performance of molded fiber and packaging products. The fractionation effort will focus on fresh black liquors from our industrial partners by using two stage membrane cascade.Their team will oversee the coordination of students and faculty engaged in circular packaging and bio-based products. Additionally, they will promote interest among the pulp and paper industry partners of the Renewable Bioproducts Institute at Georgia Tech. At the education front, various feedback and faculty evaluation are being used to make improvements in the 2024 course offering. Attempts will be made to increase the number of the students in the 2024 course. At the outreach front, we will conduct an analysis to quantify consumer preference and willingness-to-pay for molded dinnerware with varying attributes. The collected data will undergo examination to determine the presence of distinct consumer groups (segments) in the market place. This effort aims to enhance the effectiveness of communicating the information to specific customer groups. The PD- will organize a CBS (Circular Bioeconomy System) workshop at theUniversity of Tennessee, Knoxville, such that it will bring together the general public, research experts, and packaging manufacturers to educate them about the importance of bio-based and ecofriendly consumer goods.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
During the last project period we investigated the effect of processing temperature on lignin nanosizing and effect of the solid content on energy consumption per kg lignin nanoparticles (LNPs) manufactured, particle size distribution and morphology of LNPs. As an initial screening, we used kraft lignin as raw material to produce nanolignin using one tenth of the energy consumption and reducing water usage by 30 times. We also produced and characterized modified LMNP using siloxane oligomers. About 41% of lignin -OH groups were modified and the siloxane moieties also substituted the ether linkages of LMNP at the methoxyl andβ-O-4 position.We mainly focused on the development of PFAS free coating to be applied on the surface of paper. We used nanolignin as a main material to form a coating film over paper surface and the obtained results showed that regular paper can hold oil and water to meet the industrial requirements. Our modified LMNP imparted water contact angle of≤140°and an oil contact angle of≤60°to paper samples. We also produced lignin fractions from our industrial partners black liquors using reduced graphene oxide membrane. The fractionation of lignin with various molecular weight included a two-stage membrane cascade. Thus, at the research front, we are tackling the main problem faced by biorefineries, i.e., lignin isolation and value addition. We are tackling the issue of developing a cost-effective process for lignin isolation from black liquor. We have already determined a reasonable upper and lower bounds of lignin molecular weight fractionation and separation efficiency characteristics in membrane-based fractionation schemes. These findings will form the basis for designing membranes to recover a range of intermediate lignin fractions from black liquor. Overall, in the past project period, our team has successfully tackled the technoeconomic and fundamental aspects of lignin isolation, nanolignin production, and lignin-based amphiphobic coating development for paper products from industrial lignin sources. By partnering with pulp and molded fiber producers, and based on the inputs from our industrial partners, we have able to keep abreast of industrial trends and incorporate techno-economic feasibility in our product and process design. At the extension front, we studied the preference of consumers in order to predict their acceptance of bio-based, lignin-based, and ecofriendly molded pulp products. For this research, we designed an online survey instrument to collect data on consumers preferences and willingness-to-pay for molded dinnerware displaying different attributes (e.g., PFAS treatment and plant based treatment). Participants were 18+ year old, had purchased disposable dinnerware within past year, and were a grocery shopper for the household. A total of 1,304 US consumers passed the qualification questions and completed the survey in December 2022. Premilinary findings suggest that consumers perceive PFAS treatment as riskier to their own health and the environment relative to bio-based treatments. One manuscript was drafted related to perceived risk and is currenlt under review at the Journal of Cleaner Production. These results were also presented to academic researcher at the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association annual meeting in Washington D.C. in 2023. A second manuscript is being drafted which analyzed the choice experiment and willingness-to-pay for molded dinnerware with PFAS and alternative treatments after receiving information nudges related to impact of PFAS on the environment or human health. Generally, participents were willing to pay more for molded dinnerware with bio-based alternatives treatments than those with PFAS treatments. Environment related information resulted in a 61% premium for bio-based plate treatments relative to the control (no information) while personal health information generated a 51% premium for the same product compared to the control. Results suggest using bio-based treatments can generate a premium for molded plates and that premium is amplified when given more information about potential detrimental effects to the environment or ones health. At the education front, we developed and implemented aRooted in Science (RIS)course during the May 2023 session. Six University of Tennessee graduate students successfully completed the three-week course. The course, initially piloted in 2022, was designed to foster students exploring and practicing how to effectively communicate science to lay audience through speaking, writing, and utilization of social media. All activities were designed to feature communication about the research of faculty mentors or student's research. The course culminated with a celebration with students, faculty mentors, and course faculty with a showcase of students videos and an enganing discussion about communicating with the public in general and specific feedback on the course and the future opportunities.These presentations are also openly accessible through our departmental website;https://crc.tennessee.edu/rooted-in-science/
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
Zhou, Z., K. Rajan, T. Young, N. Labbe, S. Wang. 2023. Effect of processing temperature on nanolignin processing and quality during ultrafine friction grinding. Industrial Crops & Products. 198: 116685. (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2023.116685).
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Under Review
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
Rihn, A.L., N. Labbe, K. Rajan, S. Jackson, and K. Jensen. Consumers Perceptions of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances and Bio-based Treatments on Disposable Dinnerware. Journal of Cleaner Production.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
Wang, S, Zhou, Z., T. Young, N. Labbe, K. Rajan. 2023. Addressing high cost issues during the production of nanolignin and potential applications. Processing Technologies for the Forest & Biobased Products Industries PTF BPI 2023. Oct. 30 -Nov. 1, St. Simons Island, GA, USA. P.13.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
Clark, H., A. Rihn, N. Labbe, K. Rajan, and R. Chen. 2023. The role of environmental or personal health messaging when selecting disposable dinnerware. AAEA Annual Meeting and Conference, Washington D.C., July 23-25, 2023.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
Rajan, K., Wang, S., Labb�, N. Developing amphiphobic lignin coatings for molded fiber and paper products ; 2023 ACS Spring Meeting, Indianapolis, IN, Mar 26-30, 2023
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
Rajan, K., Wang, S., Labb�, N. Exploring lignin-based alternatives for PFAS-free pulp and paper packaging ; 2023 ACS Spring Meeting, Indianapolis, IN, Mar 26-30, 2023.
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Progress 02/01/22 to 01/31/23
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audiences for this project period were the science and engineering community, our partners in the pulp, paper and molded products industry, and U.S. consumers of disposable dinnerware. This project is particularly relevant to those involved in valorization of biomass components to useful materials and chemicals. Our efforts were focused on advanced Research & Development work. We also virtually surveyed a total of 1,304 domestic consumers who had purchased disposable dinnerware within the past 12 months. Efforts were made to educate those 1,304 consumers about PFAS (Per- and Polyfluorinated Substances) coatings in disposable dinnerware and their harmful effects on the environment as well as human health. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Two post-doctoral fellows, one at Co-PI Nair's lab in Georgia Tech and another at PD-Labbé's lab in the University of Tennessee, were trained in the aspects of lignin separation from black liquor and lignin-based coating development, respectively. Co-PI Rajan gained professional development experience by presenting the lignin coating development work at the University of Tennessee's Science Forum, a weekly forum targeting the general public as well as a wider scientific community. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The research findings from Co-PI Wang's lab about improving the process and energy efficiency of nanolignin production was presented in the form of a poster at an international conference where it attracted the interest of biorefineries, process engineers, and researchers who are involved in the biomass-based chemicals, fuels, and materials development. The research findings of Co-PI Rajan and PD-Labbé were presented during an invited talk at the University of Tennessee's Science Forum which attracted the interest of researchers in the arts and communication fields in addition to the above-mentioned stakeholders. The consumer survey conducted by Co-PI Rihn also used a short informercial which educated 1304 individuals about PFAS coatings and bio-based, eco-friendly consumer goods. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?In the next project period, Co-PI Sankar will design and fabricate lignin separation membranes based upon graphene oxide supported on polyethersulfone substrates, and engineer their capability to recover a range of intermediate lignin fractions from black liquor. Co-PI Wang will develop a process for incorporating nanolignin in molded pulp and thermoformed paper products. Co-PI Rajan and PD-Labbé will develop a lignin coating formulation with enhanced oil resistance such that the oil contact angle will exceed 90 °. At the education front, Co-PIs Littmann, Voothurulu, and Myers will develop and implement a Rooted in Science (RIS) course during the Summer 2023 session, at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. This course will be offered as a short, 12-week module and will educate graduate students as well as principal investigators about science communication to the general public using various tools like audio, video, paper, social networking, and other web-based formats. At the outreach front, Co-PI Rihn will analyze and quantify consumer preferences and willingness-to-pay for molded dinnerware displaying different attributes. The data will also be analyzed to identify if different consumer groups (i.e., segments) exist in the marketplace to improve ease of communicating information to potential customer groups. A peer-reviewed journal article and PowerPoint slides showing the key findings and insights will be drafted in the next project period.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
During the last project period we obtained black liquor samples from our partnered biorefineries, i.e., Genera Energy Inc. (Vonore, TN) and Rayonier Advanced Materials (Jesup, GA), and are developing an inexpensive membrane separation method for isolating lignin at Co-PI Nair's lab in Georgia Tech. To ensure industry-wide application, Co-PI Nair is testing two different sources of black liquor, namely kraft pulping liquor derived from softwoods (RYAM, Jesup, GA) and alkaline pulping liquor obtained from herbaceous biomass (Genera Energy Inc., Vonore, TN). The test results showed that separation membranes with smaller pore size of 1 nm provide higher solid retention, at about 87%, irrespective of the operating pressure (10 to 50 bar). Moreover, the solids recovered had smaller molecular weight of 3000-5000 Da, which was significantly lower than the starting molecular weight of 13,000 Da. Parallelly, Co-PI Wang's lab in the University of Tennessee employed ultrafine friction grinding to produce nanolignin from industrial technical sources. Three different processing temperatures of 0, 25, and 70 °C were tested. It was determined that grinding lignin at 70 °C improved the rate of particle size reduction and produced 160 nm-sized particles within four grinding passes. Co-PI Wang also investigated four different solid concentrations of 1, 10, 20 and 30 wt.% to determine the energy consumption per kg of nanolignin production. When the concentration of lignin suspension was increased from 1% to 20%, the energy consumption became one-tenth of the baseline process. At the same time, there was a significant reduction in water usage. Moreover, we determined that a 30% lignin concentration was ideal for obtaining a nanolignin particle size of ~150 nm. At PD-Labbé's lab, in the University of Tennessee, we have developed a lignin and siloxane-based coating that provides superior water resistance at a contact angle of 110 to 125 °, as well as moderate oil resistance (contact angle of 44 to 62 °) to paper products. After testing different lignin functionalities, such as acetylation, silylation, and succinic anhydride addition, we determined that lignin modified with siloxane oligomers exhibited superior resistance to both oil and water. Co-PI Rajan tested the pH stability of the lignin-siloxane coatings, by synthesizing the formulations at pH 1, 4 and 9, and determined that acidic lignin formulations (pH 1) provided the best amphiphobicity to paper. Thus, at the research front, we are tackling the main problem faced by biorefineries, i.e., lignin isolation and value addition. Developing lignin-based amphiphobic coatings for paper and molded fiber products will have the dual advantage of valorizing a by-product stream (i.e., lignin in black liquor) and finding an eco-friendly alternative to PFAS. Co-PI Nair is tackling the issue of developing a cost-effective process for lignin isolation from black liquor and has already determined a reasonable upper and lower bounds of lignin molecular weight fractionation and separation efficiency characteristics in membrane-based fractionation schemes. These findings will form the basis for designing membranes to recover a range of intermediate lignin fractions from black liquor. Co-PI Wang, on the other hand, is tackling the issues of long processing time and high energy consumption during nanolignin production using mechanical means. PD-Labbé and Co-PI Rajan are tackling the issues of improving the oil and grease resistance of lignin-based formulations. Lignin, which is naturally hydrophobic, absorbs oil and therefore, optimization of chemical modifications to improve the oleophobicity of lignin is essential to find replacements for PFAS. Overall, in the past project period, our team has successfully tackled the technoeconomic and fundamental aspects of lignin isolation, nanolignin production, and lignin-based amphiphobic coating development for paper products from industrial lignin sources. By partnering with pulp and molded fiber producers, and based on the inputs from Co-PI Jackson (Genera Energy Inc., Vonore, TN), we have been able to keep abreast of industrial trends and incorporate techno-economic feasibility in our product and process design. At the extension/education front, we studied the preference of consumers in order to predict their acceptance of bio-based, lignin-based, and ecofriendly molded pulp products. For this research, Co-PI Rihn, at the University of Tennessee, designed an online survey instrument that assessed consumer preferences and willingness-to-pay for pulp-based dinnerware displaying different attributes (e.g., PFAS treatment, plant-based treatment). Co-PI Rihn recruited participants who were 18+ years old, had purchased disposable dinnerware within the past year, and were a grocery shopper for the household. A total of 1,304 domestic consumers, who passed the qualification questions, completed the survey in December 2022. Participants averaged 51 years old, 69% were female, and 39% had a bachelor's degree or higher. Households were typically 2.5 people (2 adults, 0.5 children) and the mean household income in 2022 was $64,854. A five-point Likert scale was used to quantify familiarity with relevant terms, where 1 = "not at all familiar", and 5 = "extremely familiar". Participants indicated varying levels of familiarity with the terms PFAS (2.01 out of a 5-point scale), bio-based (2.8 out of 5), forever chemicals (2.0 out of 5), and lignin (1.7 out of 5). Preliminary findings suggest that consumers perceive PFAS treatments as riskier to their own health and the environment relative to bio-based treatments. Having thus evaluated the familiarity of the general population to relevant scientific terms and knowledge, we will move forward with devising information dissemination tools that will popularize bio-based pulp and paper coatings as well as increase the acceptance of lignin in the consumer goods market.
Publications
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