Lignin mimetics – Polymer materials derived from tree that will degrade at land and in the sea

Hard aromatic thermoplastics known from water bottles (PET), plastic coffee cups (PS), skylight windows (PC) and LEGO bricks (ABS) constitute 30-35% of the world’s plastic consumption. However, no biodegradable plastics of this type are available, which is why large amounts of these today end up as long term pollutants in the environment. Lignin is the largest source of natural aromatic biodegradable polymers (up to 1/3 of dry tree mass). This polymer is a heterogeneous powder material that cannot be melted and converted into plastic. Hence, the most of lignin isolated today (the major by-product of paper production) are burned as fuel. However, in recent years several methods for disassembling lignin into small molecules have been developed. In this project, we propose that these small molecules may be converted into polymers that mimic parts of natural lignin and may thereby be degraded by organisms that feed on lignin.