Valorization of Biobased Feedstocks: Lignin Trash to Treasure

Course Description

This masterclass will cover the basics of obtaining cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin from biomass (biobased feedstocks). It starts with a quick overview of the (more mainstream) cellulose and hemicellulose-based products. Then, the majority of the course will focus on lignin and motivate the need for lignin valorization, even in a cellulosic and hemicellulosic context.

Key vignettes will discuss addressing challenges around lignin recalcitrance and heterogeneity, engineering routes to the generation of lignin-derived small molecules, utilizing various lignin waste feedstocks, developing technoeconomic analysis (TEA) and life cycle assessment (LCA) strategies to quantify aspects of economic and environmental sustainability, and demonstrating the performance advantages unlocked through the use of lignin-based feedstocks in materials design.

Brief industrial case studies will be provided to illustrate several key points. Finally, the course will conclude with a teaser discussing how learnings from lignin valorization can be applied to plastic waste circularity.

Meet The Instructor

Thomas H. Epps, III, is the Allan & Myra Ferguson Distinguished Professor of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Delaware (UD) with appointments in Materials Science & Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Biomedical Engineering. He is Director of the Center for Research in Soft matter & Polymers (CRiSP), Director of the NSF MRSEC at UD called CHARM (Center for Hybrid, Active, and Responsive Materials), and Deputy Director of the DOE EFRC at UD called CPI (Center for Plastics Innovation).

His research expertise includes polymers and materials from biobased and plastics waste feedstocks, polymeric materials for ion-conduction membranes, polymer composites for toxic agent remediation, and nanostructured assemblies for targeted drug delivery and gene therapy. He is a Fellow of the American Physical Society, Royal Society of Chemistry, American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering, American Chemical Society (overall, POLY, PMSE), American Institute of Chemical Engineers, National Academy of Inventors, and American Association for the Advancement of Science. Thomas has over 170 publications, 16 patents, and several technologies under development.