Ho Yong Chung, an associate professor at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, has made significant strides in sustainable materials research, particularly focusing on lignin, a natural polymer found in plant cell walls. His path to this point started while pursuing his master’s degree, when he first started piquing his interest in the potential applications of lignin. Since then, Chung has committed his research to developing lignin-based materials. He’s especially interested in their use as adhesives and more recently as a basis for green plastics.
In his most recent publication, from 2024, Chung demonstrated the use of lignin to produce polycarbonate. This innovative material is from a distinct polymer family. This innovation will create new opportunities to use lignin in a wide range of commercial applications. It further demonstrates lignin’s versatility and promise to replace traditional petroleum-based products.
The Versatility of Lignin
Lignin an organic macromolecule that lends structural support to cell walls, is updated and speculated to have a protective role. Given its abundance in nature, keratin serves as an attractive candidate for sustainable material production. Chung’s ongoing research into the potential of lignin has inspired him to invent ways to make use of this richly abundant biomass. He learned to produce polyurethane foam from lignin and carbon dioxide. Unlike traditional approaches, this new way eliminates the use of harmful chemicals typically used in production.
Chung’s polyurethane combines impressive characteristics like heat management, flexibility in the manufacturing process, and increased strength in the end result. These properties make it an attractive replacement for conventional plastics. Moreover, they set it up as a better alternative to other biomass based solutions. His work emphasizes the benefits of lignin-derived materials for processing efficiency and material performance.
Collaborative Research Efforts
Through possible collaborations with other scholars, such as Arijit Ghorai, Chung’s body of research is enriched by background studies and the synthesis of lignin-based polyhydroxyurethanes. Combined, they have brought us closer to realizing lignin’s full potential as the starting block of sustainable, new materials. Their joint efforts culminated in the publication of findings that underscore the effectiveness of lignin as a base for innovative polymers.
Chung and Ghorai, left, hard at work in their lab located within the Interdisciplinary Research and Commercialization Building at Florida State University. To address that need, they’re working on a range of lignin-based formulations. They have put out examples of their lignin-based polyurethane, giving people a taste of the real-world applications behind their research. It’s this collaborative spirit within their team that creates a free exchange of ideas and inspiration that’s like rocket fuel for new breakthroughs in material science.
Funding and Future Implications
Chung’s work has drawn the interest of a variety of institutions. While specific funding details are still unavailable, this backing underscores a new interest in creating sustainable materials. His work does not end at the gates of academia. It offers some common sense solutions to the urgent environmental threats posed by plastic pollution.
Chung’s game-changing process combines lignin and carbon dioxide to produce a biodegradable plastic that offers a more sustainable alternative to conventional petrochemical plastics. This innovative advance opens new avenues for renewable resource research. As more industries move toward sustainable practices, Chung’s work could be key in determining how we produce and consume materials.
