This volume emphasizes the growing need for wood products with advanced engineering properties. It details the fundamental principles of cellulose technology and presents current techniques to modifying the basic chemistry of lignocellulosic materials. The work: discusses the cost-efficient use of cellulose derivatives in a variety of commodities; highlights the chemical modification of wood by methods such as etherification, esterification and thermoplasticization; considers recent progress in the lignocellulosic liquefaction of wood; and more.

This volume emphasizes the growing need for wood products with advanced engineering properties. It details the fundamental principles of cellulose technology and presents current techniques to modifying the basic chemistry of lignocellulosic materials. The work: discusses the cost-efficient use of cellulose derivatives in a variety of commodities; highlights the chemical modification of wood by methods such as etherification, esterification and thermoplasticization; considers recent progress in the lignocellulosic liquefaction of wood; and more.

This book is exclusively concerned with wood modification, although many of these processes are generic and can be applied to other lignocellulosic materials. There have been many rapid developments in wood modification over the past decade and, in particular, there has been considerable progress made in the commercialisation of technologies. Topics covered include: The use of timber in the 21st century Modifying the properties of wood Chemical modification of wood: Acetic Anhydride Modification and reaction with other chemicals Thermal modification of wood Surface modification Impregnation modification Commercialisation of wood modification Environmental consideration and future developments This is the first time that a book has covered all wood modification technologies in one text. Although the book covers the main research developments in wood modification, it also puts wood modification into context and additionally deals with aspects of commercialisation and environmental impact. This book is very timely, because wood modification is undergoing huge developments at the present time, driven in part by environmental concerns regarding the use of wood treated with certain preservatives. There has been considerable commercial interest shown in wood modification over the past decade, with products based upon thermal modification, and furfurylation now being actively being marketed. The next few years will see the commercialisation of acetylation and impregnation modification. This is a new industry, but one that has enormous potential. This book will prove useful to all those with an interest in wood modification including researchers, technologists and professionals working in wood science and timber engineering, wood preservation, and well as professionals in the paper and pulp industries, and those with an interest in the development of renewable materials.

One of the most significant challenges facing mankind in the twenty-first century is the development of a sustainable global economy. Within the scientific community, this calls for the development of processes and technologies that will allow the sustainable production of materials from renewable natural resources. Plant material, in particular lignin, is one such resource. During the annual production of about 100 million metric tons of chemical wood pulps worldwide, approximately 45 and 2 million metric tons/year of kraft lignin and lignosulfonates, respectively, are also generated. Although lignosulfonates have found many applications outside the pulp and paper industry, the majority of kraft lignin is being used internally as a low-grade fuel for the kraft pulping operation. A surplus of kraft lignin will become available as kraft mills increase their pulp production without expanding the capacity of their recovery boilers that utilize lignin as a fuel. There is a tremendous opportunity and an enormous economic incentive to find better uses of kraft lignin, lignosulfonates and other industriallignins. The pulp and paper industry not only produces an enormous amount of lignins as by products of chemical wood pulps, but it also utilizes about 10 million metric tons of lignin per year as a component of mechanical wood pulps and papers. Mechanical wood pulps, produced in a yield of 90-98% with the retention of lignin, are mainly used to make low-quality, non-permanent papers such as newsprint and telephone directories because of the light-induced photooxidation of lignin and the yellowing of the papers.

This book will focus on lignocellulosic fibres as a raw material for several applications. It will start with wood chemistry and morphology. Then, some fibre isolation processes will be given, before moving to composites, panel and paper manufacturing, characterization and aging.

Lignin Chemistry and Application systematically discusses the structure, physical and chemical modification of lignin, along with its application in the field of chemicals and materials. It presents the history of lignin chemistry and lignin-modified materials, describes recent progresses, applications and studies, and prospects the development direction of high value applications of lignin in the field of material science. In addition to covering the basic theories and technologies relating to the research and application of lignin in polymer chemistry and materials science, the book also summarizes the latest applications in rubber, engineering plastics, adhesives, films and hydrogels. Systematically discusses the structure, physical and chemical modification of lignin and its application in materials Presents the latest research results in the field of lignin Indicates the development direction of high value applications of lignin in a range of fields, including petrochemicals, household applications, medicine, agriculture, and more

Lignocellulosic materials are a natural, abundant and renewableresource essential to the functioning of industrial societies andcritical to the development of a sustainable global economy. Aswood and paper products, they have played an important role in theevolution of civilization. Improvement of the quality andmanufacturing efficiency of such products has often been hamperedby the lack of understanding of the complex structures and chemicalcompositions of the materials. Due to increasing economic and environmental issues concerning theuse of petrochemicals, lignocellulosic materials will be reliedupon as feedstock for the production of chemicals, fuels andbiocompatible materials. Significant progress has been made to uselignocellulosic materials for the production of fuel ethanol and asa reinforcing component in polymer composites. Effective andeconomical methods for such uses, however, remain underdeveloped,partly due to the difficulties encountered in the characterizationof the structures of native lignocelluloses andlignocelluloses-based materials. Improved methods for thecharacterization of lignocellulosic materials are needed. Characterization of Lignocellulosic Materials covers recentadvances in the characterization of wood, pulp fibres and papers.It also describes the analyses of native and modifiedlignocellulosic fibres and materials using a range of advancedtechniques such as time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry,2D heteronuclear single quantum correlation NMR, and Ramanmicroscopy. The book provides a survey of state-of-the-artcharacterization methods for lignocellulosic materials, for bothacademic and industrial researchers who work in the fields of woodand paper, lignocelluloses-based composites and polymer blends, andbio-based fuels and materials.

Environmentally Degradable Materials (EDPs) should replace petroleum-based plastics where recycling is not viable for logistic or labor cost reason. This book discusses the general background of obtaining such systems, compatibilization methodologies, control of the rate of degradation and final products after degradation, life time assessment, toxicological aspects, applications and market aspects. This book is a complete guide to the subject of biodegradable materials based on multi-component polymeric systems, mainly such as hydrogels, and interpenetrating polymeric networks. This book is a complete guide to the subject of biodegradable materials based on multicomponent polymeric systems such as mainly hydrogels, interpenetrating polymeric networks.

Lignocellulosic materials are a natural, abundant and renewable resource essential to the functioning of industrial societies and critical to the development of a sustainable global economy. As wood and paper products, they have played an important role in the evolution of civilization. Improvement of the quality and manufacturing efficiency of such products has often been hampered by the lack of understanding of the complex structures and chemical compositions of the materials. Due to increasing economic and environmental issues concerning the use of petrochemicals, lignocellulosic materials will be relied upon as feedstock for the production of chemicals, fuels and biocompatible materials. Significant progress has been made to use lignocellulosic materials for the production of fuel ethanol and as a reinforcing component in polymer composites. Effective and economical methods for such uses, however, remain underdeveloped, partly due to the difficulties encountered in the characterization of the structures of native lignocelluloses and lignocelluloses-based materials. Improved methods for the characterization of lignocellulosic materials are needed. Characterization of Lignocellulosic Materials covers recent advances in the characterization of wood, pulp fibres and papers. It also describes the analyses of native and modified lignocellulosic fibres and materials using a range of advanced techniques such as time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry, 2D heteronuclear single quantum correlation NMR, and Raman microscopy. The book provides a survey of state-of-the-art characterization methods for lignocellulosic materials, for both academic and industrial researchers who work in the fields of wood and paper, lignocelluloses-based composites and polymer blends, and bio-based fuels and materials.