This $650,000 Project Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture will fund research at Iowa State University from May 2023 through May 2026 under the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative competitive grants program.
The university will investigate and develop a novel lignin-based carbon fiber production method with the goal of producing automobile-grade carbon fibers from general lignin at low costs. Overcoming the challenges of effectively valorizing lignin remains a key barrier to advancing biorefinery technologies. If successful, the research has the potential to establish lignin as a viable, lower-cost alternative feedstock for carbon fibers currently derived from petroleum-based materials. The project aims to significantly improve the mechanical properties of lignin-based carbon fibers to meet commercial requirements.
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