Lignin in straw and its applications as an adhesive

The relevant information about the lignin in straw and its applications in the industry is scattered and scarce compared to the wood lignin. This review is focused on the chemical structural and composition of lignin in the straw, and its modification and uses as an adhesive. The review has showed that (1) lignin as a by-product in the pulping process and as an abundant natural and renewable product has been used and there is a great potential for many applications across various industrial sectors as a replacement for increasingly scarce and expensive petroleum based materials, including traditional products, e.g. resins, and composites, and emerging materials, e.g. biofuel and commodity chemicals. (2) The type of lignin differs not only from one to another species but also depending on the isolation protocol. However, the lack of optimising or processing technologies is significant when it comes to using technical lignin. The review has also shown a great encouragement in studying the lignin within the straw and other herbaceous crops, and the creation of the functionalities of lignin as it does with cellulose and hemicellulose could lead to radical development of lignin as bio-matrix for green composites and biomass as biofuel or other high value added applications. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.