Lignin, one of the most underutilized natural polymers, has noteworthy potential for functional
and environmentally friendly material applications. This project focuses on investigating the
influence of climate conditions on lignin properties and, consequently, on its advanced appli-
cations.
Lignin is an aromatic biopolymer and one of the main components of wood. It acts as a natural
glue that binds wood cells together, enhancing mechanical strength and rigidity while also con-
tributing to barrier properties. Owing to its chemical composition and properties, lignin is an
interesting material for a wide range of applications, including the reduction of wettability in
hydrophilic materials.
Lignin is the second most abundant biopolymer on Earth. Every year, 50–70 million tons of
technical lignin (a by-product of biomass separation processes) are produced, yet only about
2% is used commercially. Technical lignin differs from native lignin not only in its botanical
origin, but also as a result of extraction processes and possible chemical modifications [1].
Within the Climate-Informed Engineering Research Training Group funded by the DFG, we
aim to apply machine learning algorithms to identify and quantify the relationships
between process parameters and the physicochemical properties of lignin. Particular emphasis
is placed on colour and surface characteristics, which may be influenced by climatic conditions,
and on how these factors affect lignin applications—for example, its use as a natural hydro-
phobizing agent for biopolymeric particles.
Given lignin’s complex and highly variable structure, it is essential to characterize lignins de-
rived not only from different feedstocks and extraction processes, but also from different cli-
matic regions. To achieve this, climate data provided by the Max Planck Institute are combined
with comprehensive lignin characterization, enabling a deeper understanding of lignin variabil-
ity. This knowledge is required to investigate lignin applications under varying climate condi-
tions, with a particular focus on lignin-based coatings for biopolymer aerogels. For this partic-
ular application, it is crucial to understand lignin self-organization mechanisms on bioparticle
surfaces and their impact on coating performance.
Ultimately, we aim to develop a model that links climate information, lignin properties, and
coating performance in novel applications. This work will be carried out in cooperation with
areas A2 and B2, and in collaboration with B1 and A1 for analytics and data structuring.
[1] J. Ruwoldt, F. H. Blindheim, and G. Chinga-Carrasco, ‘Functional surfaces, films, and coatings with lignin – a critical review’, RSC Adv., vol. 13, no. 18, pp.
12529–12553, 2023, doi: 10.1039/D2RA08179B
