A Natural Thermoreactive Binder for Lignin–Carbohydrate Compositions

Existing methods of mechanical, chemical–mechanical, and chemical processing of wood do not allow efficient using of such burdensome wastes as wood with “rot” and hydrolytic lignin formed as a result of natural mycolysis and technical hydrolysis of wood. However, in our opinion, mycologically destroyed wood with “brown rot” can be used as a promising thermoreactive raw material for obtaining various kinds of products and materials. This paper provides a theoretical justification for the use of “brown rot” with a high content of extractives in various chemical and technological processes associated with the use of elevated temperatures. The theoretically possible chemical reactions between extractive substances and lignin-containing products occurring under thermal action are considered. The results of the studies on the use of mycologically destroyed wood for the production of lignin–carbohydrate plastics and structuring of raw coal based on hydrolytic lignin are presented. The best performance indicators in the production of lignin–carbohydrate plastics is achieved while using a mixture of “white rot,” which acts as a fibrous matrix, and “brown rot,” which acts as a thermoreactive binder, in a ratio of 1 : 1. It has been established that the greatest quantitative effect in obtaining raw coal is achieved by pyrolysis of a composition containing 15% “brown rot” and 85% hydrolytic lignin with the formation of a structured product.