Um-e Farwa Saif: Synthesis of High-performance lignocellulosic composites green by derivatization chemistry and reactive extrusion

My research focuses on the chemical modification of lignin in order to improve its processability and compatibility for sustainable material applications. Although lignin is one of the most abundant aromatic biopolymers, its complex and heterogeneous structure limits its use in thermoplastic composites and advanced bio-based materials. 

In this ongoing work, alkali lignin is being modified through maleation and oxyalkylation under different reaction conditions to introduce reactive functionalities and improve its structural uniformity and flexibility. The modified lignins are being studied using techniques such as FTIR, NMR spectroscopy, SEM, zeta potential, and thermal analysis to better understand the relationship between chemical structure and material properties.

The overall aim of the project is to develop scalable and environmentally conscious lignin modification strategies that can contribute to the development of renewable and high-performance materials for circular bioeconomy applications.