# US 11,441,035 B2 · Functional lignin, and its use in producing blends, copolymers, and self-healing elastomers > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,441,035 B2 - Document ID: US11441035B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/277,020 - Filed: 2019-02-15 - Published: 2019-08-22 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2018-02-16 - Assignees: UT-Battelle, LLC - Applicants: UT-Battelle, LLC - Inventors: Amit K. Naskar; Mengmeng Cui - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11441035B2 ## CPC - C08L 97/005: {Lignin} - C08H 6/00: {Macromolecular compounds derived from lignin, e.g. tannins, humic acids} - C08L 9/02: Copolymers with acrylonitrile - C08L 71/02: Polyalkylene oxides - C08L 71/08: Polyethers derived from hydroxy compounds or from their metallic derivatives (C08L71/02 takes precedence) - C08L 77/06: Polyamides derived from polyamines and polycarboxylic acids (C08L77/10 takes precedence) - C08L 2205/03: containing three or more polymers in a blend - C08L: COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS (compositions based on polymerisable monomers C08F, C08G; artificial filaments or fibres D01F; textile treating compositions D06) - C08H: DERIVATIVES OF NATURAL MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS (polysaccharides C08B; natural rubber C08C; natural resins or their derivatives C09F; bituminous materials C10) ## Abstract A composition comprising lignin compounds possessing 8-30 (or 5-15 or 8-12) phenyl rings interconnected by ether and alkylene linkages and containing hydroxy and/or methoxy groups attached to said phenyl rings, wherein said composition possesses a glass transition temperature of 80-100° C. (or 95-98° C.) and a degree of substitution (DS) of carboxylic acid groups per phenyl ring of at least 0.5 and a DS of methoxy groups per phenyl ring of no more than 1.2, 1.1, or 1.0, wherein at least 90 wt % of said lignin compounds has a molecular weight within a range of 500-5000 g/mol, 1500-3000 g/mol, or 2000-2500 g/mol and/or wherein the molecular weight distribution of the lignin compounds is characterized by a polydispersity index of 1.0-1.5, 1.0-1.4, or 1.0-1.3, and wherein other lignin compounds not possessing the above characteristics are not present. Methods for producing the lignin extract and lignin copolymers and blends produced therefrom are also described. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A polymer blend or copolymer material comprising: (i) a lignin component comprising lignin compounds possessing 5-30 phenyl rings interconnected by ether and alkylene linkages and containing hydroxy and/or methoxy groups attached to said phenyl rings; wherein said lignin component possesses a glass transition temperature of 80-100° C. and a degree of substitution (DS) of carboxylic acid groups per phenyl ring of at least 0.5 and a DS of methoxy groups per phenyl ring of no more than 1.2; wherein at least 90 wt % of said lignin compounds has a molecular weight within a range of 500-5000 g/mol and/or wherein the molecular weight distribution of the lignin compounds is characterized by a polydispersity index of 1.0-1.5; and wherein other lignin compounds not possessing the above characteristics are not present; and (ii) an acrylonitrile-containing polymer component; wherein said lignin component is present in an amount of at least 5 wt % and up to about 95 wt % by total weight of components (i) and (ii). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The polymer blend or copolymer material of claim 1, wherein said lignin component comprises lignin compounds possessing 5-15 phenyl rings interconnected by ether and alkylene linkages and containing hydroxy and/or methoxy groups attached to said phenyl rings; wherein said composition possesses a glass transition temperature range having a median temperature within 80-100° C. and lower and upper temperature bounds of ±5° C. from the median temperature, and a degree of substitution (DS) of carboxylic acid groups per phenyl ring of at least 0.5 and a DS of methoxy groups per phenyl ring of no more than 1.2; wherein at least 90 wt % of said lignin compounds has a molecular weight within a range of 1500-3000 g/mol and/or wherein the molecular weight distribution of the lignin compounds is characterized by a polydispersity index of 1.0-1.5; and wherein other lignin compounds not possessing the above characteristics are not present. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The polymer blend material of claim 1, wherein said acrylonitrile-containing polymer is nitrile butadiene rubber. ### Claim 4 A polymer blend or copolymer material comprising: (i) a lignin component comprising lignin compounds possessing 5-30 phenyl rings interconnected by ether and alkylene linkages and containing hydroxy and/or methoxy groups attached to said phenyl rings; wherein said lignin component possesses a glass transition temperature of 80-100° C. and a degree of substitution (DS) of carboxylic acid groups per phenyl ring of at least 0.5 and a DS of methoxy groups per phenyl ring of no more than 1.2; wherein at least 90 wt % of said lignin compounds has a molecular weight within a range of 500-5000 g/mol and/or wherein the molecular weight distribution of the lignin compounds is characterized by a polydispersity index of 1.0-1.5; and wherein other lignin compounds not possessing the above characteristics are not present; and (ii) a polyamide polymer component; wherein said lignin component is present in an amount of at least 5 wt % and up to about 95 wt % by total weight of components (i) and (ii). ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The polymer blend or copolymer material of claim 4, wherein said lignin component comprises lignin compounds possessing 5-15 phenyl rings interconnected by ether and alkylene linkages and containing hydroxy and/or methoxy groups attached to said phenyl rings; wherein said composition possesses a glass transition temperature range having a median temperature within 80-100° C. and lower and upper temperature bounds of ±5° C. from the median temperature, and a degree of substitution (DS) of carboxylic acid groups per phenyl ring of at least 0.5 and a DS of methoxy groups per phenyl ring of no more than 1.2; wherein at least 90 wt % of said lignin compounds has a molecular weight within a range of 1500-3000 g/mol and/or wherein the molecular weight distribution of the lignin compounds is characterized by a polydispersity index of 1.0-1.5; and wherein other lignin compounds not possessing the above characteristics are not present. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The polymer blend or copolymer material of claim 4, wherein said polyamide is a nylon.