Thermoplastic lignocellulose materials: A review on recent advancement and utilities

Lignocellulosic biomass is the most abundantly available resource in nature. However, its potential as a replacement of oil in plastic production has not been fully exploited. To reduce the carbon footprint, the use of lignocellulose biomass to produce bio-based plastics is attracting increasing global interest. The aim of this review article is to systematically summarize the recent advancements of the development of lignocellulose materials that possess thermoplastic properties, meaning they can be processed/shaped by common plastic processing techniques. The approaches used for modification of lignocellulose biomass and the properties of the modified materials, as well as factors affecting the properties of these, are discussed. The regulatory aspects and policy directions of bio-based plastics, including thermoplastic lignocellulose, are also mentioned. Current challenges of producing thermoplastic lignocellulose and the way forward to solve this are also explored.