Eco-Friendly Lignin-Based Flame Retardant from Different Polymeric Materials

The need to save the environment from excessive energy consumption from fossil fuels has seen a growing demand for renewable energy solutions in virtually all man’s daily needs. Lignin as the second largest abundant renewable resource from plants, has been grossly underutilized. Only about 5% of the total lignin produced annually is used as raw material for useful products. While the remaining 95% are burnt as fuel. Lignin, with its many functional groups on its molecular structure, has the ability, to interact chemically with many other molecules. Therefore, it can be modified easily to suit many daily chemical needs of man. One such application is in flame retardants, especially for polymer materials. Halogenated flame retardants have been found to produce toxic by-products, making their continuous use a serious health concern issue. Also, the need to use more environmentally sustainable materials requires that alternatives for such products be developed. Lignin based flame retardants are being considered suitable alternatives because of their many advantages, including renewability, availability, eco-friendliness, and non-toxicity. This chapter will discuss the different types of eco-friendly lignin flame retardants used in polymer design, their synthesis, efficiency, and possible application areas.