Bio-Based Phenolic Resins from Pyrolysis Oils
Summary
Bio-based phenolic resins synthesised from pyrolysis oils represent a promising class of sustainable thermosetting polymers in which phenol feedstocks are partially or wholly replaced by lignocellulosic-derived bio-oils. Typically produced via fast pyrolysis of agricultural or forestry residues, these oils contain a complex mixture of phenolic, ketonic and acidic compounds that can react with formaldehyde under alkaline conditions to form resol-type networks. This approach addresses both the environmental burden of fossil-derived phenol and the valorisation of biomass waste streams. Key performance targets include minimising free formaldehyde, maintaining adequate viscosity for processing, and achieving sufficient crosslink density to confer mechanical strength, thermal stability and moisture resistance. Applications range from wood adhesives and composite matrices to high-performance laminates, with recent advances focusing on tailored pretreatment of bio-oils to enrich reactive lignin fractions, optimisation of substitution ratios to balance cost and performance, and incorporation of co-solvents or additives to stabilise storage and curing behaviour.
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Bio-Based Phenolic Resins from Pyrolysis Oils publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in bio-based phenolic resins from pyrolysis oils across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Pyrolysis oil: A complex liquid mixture produced by thermal decomposition of biomass in the absence of oxygen, rich in phenolics, sugars and organic acids.
Bio-based phenolic resin: A thermosetting polymer formed by condensation of phenol (or phenol substitutes) with aldehyde under alkaline conditions, incorporating renewable phenolic feedstocks.
Resol: A class of phenol-formaldehyde resins synthesised under basic conditions with a molar excess of formaldehyde, yielding self-curing networks upon heating.
Lignin fraction: The water-insoluble, viscous component of pyrolysis oil enriched in polyphenolic lignin derivatives, often used to replace phenol.
Crosslink density: A measure of the number of covalent bonds connecting polymer chains in a cured resin network, influencing rigidity, thermal and moisture resistance.
References
- Production of pyrolytic lignin for the phenolic resin synthesis via fast pyrolysis. Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis (2023).
- Performance and characterization of phenol-formaldehyde resin with crude bio-oil by model compound method. PLOS ONE (2023).
- The Preparation and Performance of Bamboo Waste Bio-Oil Phenolic Resin Adhesives for Bamboo Scrimber. Forests (2023).
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