(752e) Utilization of Autohydrolysis As a Pathway to Value-Added Products and Sustainable Materials from Biomas

Plastic pollution is at an all-time high and will only continue to rise with the continued production of single-use non-biodegradable plastics. To remedy this mounting issue, alternatives to petroleum-based persistent plastics are being sought. It is no secret that biomass holds a lot of potential in terms of renewable materials and value-added products. Autohydrolysis (AH) pretreatment allows for inexpensive extraction of hemicelluloses from wood fibers, leaving solids composed primarily of lignin and cellulose. From the extracted hemicellulose high-value XOS can be obtained and purified for use as a prebiotic however, few uses have been found for the remaining AH solids. AH solids composed of cellulose and lignin were acetylated and subsequently combined with a bioplastic material to create biodegradable bioplastics. Mechanical refining was used to increase the availability of hydroxyl groups for acetylation. Herein, the physical properties of acetylated AH solids are investigated with the eventual goal of bioplastic blending. Blended acetylated solids are shown to impart beneficial properties to bioplastic blends.