Micro and Nanolignin in Aqueous Dispersions and Polymers

Dr. Debora Puglia is a Researcher and Lecturer in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, at the Università degli Studi di Perugia, Italy. Involved in the development and characterization of polymeric, composite and nanocomposite materials, her research interests are related to the study of biodegradable polymers and nanocomposites, thermosetting and thermoplastic matrix composites reinforced with vegetable fibers, nanocomposites reinforced with silica, lignocellulosic and carbon nanostructures. Dr. Puglia has co-edited 1 book, authored 20 book chapters and published more than 150 papers in peer reviewed journals. Dr. Carlo Santulli is Associate Professor of Materials Science and Technology at the Università degli Studi di Camerino, where he lectures on materials science and experimentation to industrial designers. His research interests are in composite materials and nanocomposites, natural fibres and sustainable materials, waste upcycling, bio-inspired design and biomimetics. He has around 30 years experience in this field, having worked at the Università di Roma - La Sapienza, JRC Ispra, University of Liverpool, where he got his PhD, University of Nottingham, University of Reading, and Seconda Università di Napoli. He has also been Invited Researcher and Professor at Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Ecole des Mines de Saint Etienne, Université de Rouen, Università di Bologna, and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. Dr. Santulli has over 200 publications to his name, including a book on biomimetics. Fabrizio Sarasini received the Laurea degree (cum laude) in Materials Engineering and the Ph.D. degree in Materials Engineering from Sapienza University of Rome in 2002 and 2007, respectively. Since June 2019 he is Associate Professor of Materials Science and Technology at the Department of Chemical Engineering Materials Environment of Sapienza University of Rome. His research interests include the use of plant fibres in biopolymers for designing biocomposites with reduced environmental impact, fibre/matrix interfacial modification and assessment, the valorization of agro-industrial wastes as fillers in thermoplastic matrices (micro- and nanoscale), 3D printing of polymers and polymer matrix composites, the low and high velocity impact response of composite materials for structural applications. He has directed or co-directed three PhD theses and has been responsible for four collaborative research programs. He has more than 160 international peer-reviewed journal papers.

Part I - Micro and Nanolignin Extraction and Properties 1. Microlignin: where to find and how to recover it 2. Colour characteristics of microlignin 3. Lignin depolymerization for monomers production by sustainable processes 4. Nanolignin: extraction methodologies and their impact assessment

Part II - Applications of Lignin at the Microscale 5. Lignin-based composites for packaging application 6. Lignin as flame retardant in biopolymers 7. Manufacture and application of lignin-based carbon fibers and lignin-based carbon nanofibers 8. The use of lignin as a precursor for carbon fibre-reinforced composites 9. Effect of lignin in bio-based/oil-based polymer blends

Part III - Applications of Lignin at the Nanoscale 10. Polymeric composites and nanocomposites containing lignin: structure and applications

11. Lignin for metal ion remediation in aqueous systems 12. Lignin nanoparticles in coatings for wood preservation 13. Chemical Modification and Functionalization of Lignin Nanoparticles 14. Biopolymer/nanolignin films with enhanced toughness 15. Lignin in Nanocomposite Hydrogels