Research project From atomistic to macroscopic understanding: unravelling lignin's untapped potential as earth's most abundant natural phenolic compound
This collaborative project, coordinated by KTH (Prof. Minna Hakkarainen), addresses the structural complexity of lignin, a key biopolymer in plant biomass that remains only partially understood at the molecular level. The project aims to map lignin structure in detail and connect its inherent heterogeneity to controlled fractionation and functionalisation strategies. By combining advanced analytical methods with selective chemical and catalytic approaches, it seeks to identify well-defined lignin building blocks that can enable reproducible material design.
Within this framework, the Sipponen group at Stockholm University will develop methodologies for producing functional coatings from lignin particles, with a particular emphasis on modifying and enhancing textile fibre surfaces. The overall goal is to enable circular lignin-based materials with tailored properties, thereby strengthening the utilisation of lignin as a renewable resource in future material systems