Hemicelluloses modification in thermoplastic polymer for further industrial applications

Abstract

The transition towards a circular bioeconomy has increased interest in replacing petroleum-based products with sustainable alternatives derived from renewable resources. Among the promising biopolymers, hemicelluloses offer large availability and functional potential but remain underutilized. This thesis explores the use of allyl-modified hemicelluloses in the synthesis of partially bio-based thermoplastic polymers. Hemicellulose was chemically modified with allyl glycidyl ether (AGE) before copolymerization. The resulting latices were characterized in terms of chemical structure, molar mass distribution, particle size, and colloidal stability. The results show that modified hemicelluloses successfully participated in copolymerization, forming latex dispersions without the need for synthetic surfactants. Medium to high adhesive strengths were achieved with partially bio-based formulations, while formulations with high bio-based content maintained functional adhesion. This study highlights the potential of using modified hemicelluloses to reduce the reliance on fossil-based polymers in industrial applications and supports their future development toward sustainable and bio-based material solutions