Plant-derived composition and method for producing plant-derived composition

Abstract

[Problem] To provide: a plant-derived composition having incombustibility and / or fire resistance; and a method for producing the plant-derived composition. [Solution] A method for producing a plant-derived composition that contains at least a binder component and a plant material, the method comprising: a step for at least partially extracting lignin L from a plant P0 using an alkali hydroxide B0 that contains, as an main component, an aqueous alkali silicate solution and / or a metal silicon hydration solution and / or a silanol solution having a siloxane skeleton to obtain a first plant material P1 that is a modification product of the plant P0; and a step for dissolving the extracted lignin L in the alkali hydroxide B0 to obtain a first binder component B1.

Description

Plant-derived composition and method for producing the same

[0001] Generally, the present invention relates to a plant-derived composition (plant-derived coating composition), a plant-derived composition having nonflammability and / or flame retardancy and / or fire resistance and / or adhesiveness, and a method for producing the same.

[0002] Steel frames used in buildings and the like are softened and deformed by high heat when a fire occurs, and there is a risk of collapsing the entire building. Therefore, fireproof coating is mandatory under the Building Standards Act. As methods of fireproof coating, there are spraying, wrapping, applying formed plates, paints, etc. Among them, spraying of inexpensive and highly versatile rock wool is widely used. However, rock wool generates a large amount of dust during spraying construction, which scatters and is not favorable for the construction environment. For this reason, in recent years, fireproof coating methods using wrapping, applying formed plates, or paints, which generate less dust, have been used.

[0003] Conventional fireproof paints as fireproof coating materials contain, for example, a foaming agent such as ammonium polyphosphate, a carbonizing agent such as polyhydric alcohols, a resin binder such as an acrylic resin, a pigment such as a coloring pigment (titanium oxide), and a solvent such as xylene. When the coating film temperature of the fireproof paint reaches 250 to 300 °C during a fire, the ammonium polyphosphate of the foaming agent decomposes, and the polyhydric alcohols are decomposed by phosphoric acid to form a carbonized layer. Further, decomposition of the foaming agent and melting of the resin binder occur, gases such as carbon dioxide, ammonia, and water vapor are generated, and the carbonized layer expands due to foam formation of the resin binder to form a heat insulation layer several tens of times the original coating film thickness. This heat insulation layer protects the steel frame coated with the fireproof paint from the fire.

[0004] Conventional fireproof paints form a heat insulation layer during a fire and exhibit heat insulation and fire resistance performance. However, as described above, they generate gases such as carbon dioxide, ammonia, and water vapor, and use petroleum-based raw materials such as acrylic resins and xylene, so black smoke also occurs. Therefore, when inhaled by a person, there is a risk of causing headaches, dizziness, nausea, etc. The gases generated from conventional fireproof paints are harmful and toxic to the human body.

[0005] In contrast, fire-resistant coatings made from raw materials derived from natural ingredients are known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a wood-based coating containing lignin, wherein the lignin is soluble in organic solvents and contains 5 to 90% by mass of lignin as non-volatile content (Patent Document 1, Claim 1). As raw materials for organic solvent-soluble lignin, cedar, bamboo, rice straw, wheat straw, cypress, acacia, willow, poplar, bagasse, corn, sugarcane, rice grain, eucalyptus, and eryanthus (Patent Document 1, Paragraph 0024).

[0006] Patent Document 2 discloses a method for producing a fire-resistant material obtained by impregnating a plant-based natural material with a treatment solution containing an ammonium salt, and then heating it to 200-300°C in a reducing atmosphere to carbonize it, or heating it to 200-300°C in a vapor atmosphere to carbonize it (Patent Document 2, Claim 1). Examples of plant-based natural materials include cotton woven fabric, cotton nonwoven fabric, cotton batting, kapok batting, rice husks, rice straw, hemp, palm oil, and reeds (Patent Document 2, Paragraph 0009).

[0007] In the wood-based paint described in Patent Document 1, organic solvents such as alcohol, toluene, and benzene are used (Patent Document 1, paragraphs 0026 and 0040), so harmful volatile gases caused by the organic solvents are generated not only during fire but also during manufacturing. In addition, in the fire-resistant material described in Patent Document 2, ammonium salts such as ammonium polyphosphate, ammonium sulfate, and ammonium carbonate are used as the treatment solution (Patent Document 2, paragraphs 0010 and 0015), so harmful ammonia gas is generated. Therefore, in the cases of Patent Documents 1 and 2, if the generated harmful gases fill, for example, a room, they will have adverse effects on the human body. Accordingly, there is a need for the development and commercialization of non-combustible and / or fire-resistant building materials that do not generate harmful gases during manufacturing and during fire. Furthermore, Patent Document 1, which describes wood-based paints containing lignin, lists cedar, bamboo, rice straw, wheat straw, cypress, acacia, willow, poplar, bagasse, corn, sugarcane, rice grain, eucalyptus, and eryanthus as raw materials for lignin, while Patent Document 2 lists cotton woven fabric, cotton nonwoven fabric, cotton batting, kapok batting, rice husks, rice straw, hemp, palm oil, and reeds as plant-based natural materials. From this, it can be seen that woody biomass (woody and herbaceous lignocellulosic biomass) has recently attracted attention as a key material for solving environmental problems in various industries.

[0008] Beyond building materials, there is a demand for the development and sale of materials and products that are non-combustible and / or fire-resistant and do not generate harmful substances in various fields, such as electronic devices like personal computers and printers, home appliances like microwave ovens, air conditioners, and refrigerators, transportation machinery like automobiles, aircraft, and ships, and industrial machinery like factory equipment. Furthermore, there is a desire for the development of new materials using lignin, which is abundant in nature, as a raw material.

[0009] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2011-219717 Japanese Patent Publication No. 2011-6821

[0010] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a plant-derived composition having at least non-flammable and / or fire-resistant properties, and a method for producing the same. It also aims to provide a plant-derived composition that does not generate harmful substances and is environmentally friendly, and a method for producing the same.

[0011] Hereinafter, reference numerals will be used to indicate the details of the invention. The present invention provides a method for producing a plant-derived composition comprising at least a binder component and a plant material, comprising the steps of: using an alkali hydroxide B0 mainly composed of an alkaline aqueous solution of silicate and / or a hydrated solution of metallic silicon and / or a siloxane skeleton, to extract lignin L at least partially from a plant P0 to obtain a first plant material P1 modified from the plant P0; and dissolving lignin L in alkali hydroxide B0 to obtain a first binder component B1.

[0012] In the manufacturing method of the present invention, natural ingredients are used as all, substantially all, or most of the raw materials. Specifically, for example, an alkali hydroxide B0 with a silica source from natural ingredients and a plant P0 are used, lignin L is extracted from the plant P0 to produce a first plant material P1, and the lignin L is dissolved in alkali hydroxide B0 to produce a first binder component B1. Therefore, a plant-derived composition that is safe for the human body, non-flammable and / or fire-resistant can be produced using natural ingredients without using petroleum-derived chemicals, etc. In other words, no black smoke or harmful gases are generated during manufacturing or in the event of an actual fire.

[0013] In an embodiment of the method for producing a plant-derived composition of the present invention, the step of obtaining the first binder component B1 involves dissolving lignin L, which has been extracted from plant P0, with alkali hydroxide B0. In the step of obtaining the first binder component B1, the phenol group of lignin L is reacted with alkali hydroxide B0 to obtain alkali lignophenol silicate and / or alkali lignin as the first binder component B1. The method further includes the step of separating at least partially one of the first binder component B1 or the first plant material P1 from the other. Plant P0 is a grass plant, and is one or more selected from wheat, barley, oat, rye, adlay, millet, foxtail millet, barnyard millet, rice, corn, sorghum, sugarcane, bamboo, Japanese pampas grass, wild rice, reed, Japanese pampas grass, dwarf bamboo, golden bamboo, white reed, turfgrass, and pampas grass. Plant P0 consists of trees, including Japanese cypress, sawara cypress, Japanese cypress, Japanese hinoki cypress, Japanese red pine, Japanese black pine, Japanese white pine, fir, Himalayan cedar, Japanese cedar, hemlock, Yezo spruce, Sakhalin fir, Japanese larch, ginkgo, metasequoia, camphor tree, Machilus thunbergii, Japanese spicebush, Japanese laurel, Japanese evergreen oak, Japanese white oak, Japanese evergreen oak, Japanese chinquapin, and Japanese chinquapin. , , , Japanese camellia, holly, Ternstroemia gymnanthera, Cleyera japonica, Osmanthus fragrans, weeping willow, white birch, Japanese alder, beech, sawtooth oak, cork oak, oak, Mongolian oak, sawtooth oak, zelkova, magnolia, Japanese white birch, magnolia, kobushi magnolia, plum, plane tree, Japanese maple, dogwood, kousa dogwood, and persimmon. Silica, one of the raw materials for the alkaline silicate aqueous solution B0, is made from one or more raw materials selected from minerals, sedimentary rocks, clay minerals, and grasses. The process further includes adding grasses as plant P0. The method further includes the steps of: extracting furfural F from a first plant material P1 at least partially using high-temperature steam to obtain a second plant material P2 obtained by modifying the first plant material P1; and reacting the extracted furfural F with a first binder component B1 to obtain a second binder component B2. The method further includes the steps of: carbonizing plant P0 and / or the first plant material P1 to obtain a carbonized additive PC containing plant carbonized P0C and / or first plant material carbonized P1C; and adding the carbonized additive PC to at least the first binder component B1 and the first plant material P1.

[0014] The plant-derived composition of the present invention contains a first plant material P1 as a porous insulating material obtained by at least partially removing lignin L from plant P0, and a first binder component B1 mainly composed of alkali silicate, lignophenol, or alkali lignin.

[0015] The plant-derived composition of the present invention has excellent fire resistance. Furthermore, since all, substantially all, or most of the raw materials are natural components, and it contains a first plant material P1 and a first binder component B1 mainly composed of alkali silicate, lignophenol, or alkali lignin, no harmful gases are generated during the manufacture of the plant-derived composition or in the event of an actual fire, making it harmless to the human body.

[0016] In embodiments of the plant-derived composition of the present invention, either a first plant material P1 or a first binder component B1 is the main component. It further contains a grass plant as plant P0. It further contains a second plant material P2 obtained by partially removing furfural F from the first plant material P1, and a second binder component B2 mainly composed of silicate lignin or alkaline lignin. It further contains plant char P0C and / or first plant material char P1C, which are obtained by carbonizing plant P0 and / or the first plant material P1. It is included as at least part of a non-combustible composition, flame-retardant composition, fire-resistant composition, fireproof composition, heat-resistant composition, paint composition, adhesive composition, or bioplastic. It is used in applications such as non-combustible materials, flame-retardant materials, fire-resistant materials, fireproof materials, paints, adhesives, heat-resistant materials, phenolic resin substitutes, synthetic resin additives, biomass-rubber composite materials, materials that enhance plant disease and pest resistance, plant growth promoting materials, heavy metal ion sorption materials, materials for removing environmental pollution, soil conditioners, or natural antioxidants.

[0017] The present invention exhibits excellent non-flammability and / or fire resistance, as well as adhesive properties. The plant-derived composition of the present invention does not generate harmful gases during its manufacture or use, making it safe for human health and environmentally friendly. The plant-derived composition of the present invention can be widely applied to all uses and technical fields requiring non-flammability, fire resistance, fire prevention, heat insulation, etc.

[0018] Front view showing a square steel pipe test specimen coated with the plant-derived composition of the present invention. Enlarged cross-sectional view along line A-A in Figure 1. Photograph showing a square steel pipe test specimen coated with the plant-derived composition of the present invention installed in a column furnace. Graph showing the results of a combustion experiment using the plant-derived composition according to the fourth embodiment. Graph showing the results of a fire resistance performance test (change in temperature inside the column furnace) using the plant-derived composition according to the fifth-first embodiment. Graph showing the results of a fire resistance performance test (change in temperature under the coating material) using the plant-derived composition according to the fifth-first embodiment. Graph showing the results of a fire resistance performance test (change in temperature under the coating material) using the plant-derived composition according to the fifth-first embodiment. Graph showing the results of a fire resistance performance test (change in temperature under the coating material) using the plant-derived composition according to the fifth-first embodiment.

[0019] Embodiments of the plant-derived composition of the present invention will be described below. The embodiments and drawings below are illustrative and do not limit the technical scope of the present invention. Furthermore, all descriptions relating to embodiments of the plant-derived composition of the present invention also apply to the method of producing the plant-derived composition of the present invention, and vice versa. Reference numerals are used below to facilitate understanding of the invention.

[0020] The plant-derived composition of the present invention contains at least a binder component and a plant material (plant-derived material). In the first aspect of the present invention, it contains at least a first plant material P1 as a porous thermal insulation material obtained by partially removing lignin L, which is a phenolic polymer, from plant P0, and a first binder component B1 mainly composed of alkali silicate, lignophenol, or alkali lignin, which is a non-combustible component.

[0021] As the plant P0 used as the raw material for the first plant material P1, any plant, such as herbaceous plants or trees, can be used. Crushed leaves, stems, fruit peels, seeds, and roots of herbaceous plants can be used, and crushed leaves, branches, trunks, bark, and roots of trees can be used. Dried plant P0 is preferred from the viewpoint of productivity and economics in the manufacturing process. As herbaceous plants, grasses and hemp plants can be used, and as trees (woody plants), conifers and broad-leaved trees can be used. In particular, as the plant P0 used in the present invention, grasses are preferred, and specifically, one or more selected from wheat, barley, oats, rye, adlay, millet, foxtail millet, barnyard millet, rice, corn, sorghum, sugarcane, bamboo, Japanese pampas grass, wild rice, reeds, Japanese pampas grass, dwarf bamboo, golden bamboo, white reed, turfgrass, pampas grass, etc. can be used. Grasses store a large amount of silica (silicon dioxide), making them suitable for the production of alkali silicate and lignophenol B1, which are non-combustible components. In other words, the silica component necessary for alkali silicate and lignophenol B1 may be obtained from plant P0 (plant-derived material containing silica) such as grasses and trees.

[0022] Lignin is a natural polymer that, along with cellulose and hemicellulose, constitutes cell walls and has a phenylpropanoid structure (C6-C3) as its basic framework. Lignin found in grasses is a complex compound in which monomers such as p-coumaryl alcohol (H unit), coniferyl alcohol (G unit), and synapyl alcohol (S unit) are intricately bonded together.

[0023] Trees (woody plants) can also be used as plant P0 in this invention. For example, you can use one or more selected from cypress, sawara cypress, Japanese cypress, Japanese hinoki cypress, Japanese red pine, Japanese black pine, Japanese white pine, fir, Himalayan cedar, Japanese cedar, hemlock, Yezo spruce, Sakhalin fir, Japanese larch, ginkgo, metasequoia, camphor tree, Machilus thunbergii, Japanese spicebush, Japanese laurel, Japanese evergreen oak, Japanese white oak, Japanese evergreen oak, Japanese chinquapin, Japanese camellia, Japanese holly, Japanese bayberry, Japanese cleyera, sweet osmanthus, weeping willow, white birch, Japanese alder, beech, sawtooth oak, cork oak, Japanese oak, Mongolian oak, sawtooth oak, Japanese zelkova, bigleaf magnolia, Japanese white birch, magnolia, kobushi magnolia, plum, plane tree, Japanese maple, Japanese dogwood, Japanese dogwood, persimmon, etc.

[0024] The first plant material P1 is a porous material mainly composed of polysaccharides cellulose and hemicellulose, obtained by partially or almost completely removing lignin L from plant P0. Generally, when plants are burned, the rise in temperature causes thermal decomposition of lignin, etc., and the resulting flammable gases (methane, carbon monoxide, etc.) react with oxygen in the air, promoting the combustion of the plant. Also, plants are usually porous and contain a lot of air in their voids, making them easily combustible. In contrast, the plant-derived composition of the present invention contains the first plant material P1 from which flammable lignin has been removed from the plant, and therefore is non-combustible or flame-retardant. Furthermore, since the surrounding walls defining the porous voids of the first plant material P1 from which lignin L has been removed are also made of non-combustible material, the air contained in the voids does not contribute to combustion and greatly contributes as an air layer (insulating layer) that enhances the heat insulation function.

[0025] The first binder component B1 contained in the plant-derived composition of the present invention is mainly composed of alkali silicate / lignophenol or alkali lignin, and is a high-performance binder with thickening and film-forming properties. Alkali silicate / lignophenol B1 is a compound in which alkali silicate such as sodium silicate (water glass) (Na2SiO3) or potassium silicate (K2SiO3) is at least partially bonded to lignophenol obtained by modifying lignin L. Lignophenol is a functional phenolic polymer derived from lignin and is used as a substitute material for phenolic resins, a raw material for bioplastics, and biomass. Alkali lignin is a natural polymer compound obtained from plant-derived lignocellulose material and refers to lignin treated under alkaline conditions. Alkali lignin is an aromatic polymer with a complex three-dimensional structure, containing functional groups such as phenolic hydroxyl groups and alcoholic hydroxyl groups, and has high chemical reactivity.

[0026] When the plant-derived composition of the present invention, which contains alkali silicate, lignophenol and / or alkali lignin (first binder component B1), is incorporated into paints, resins, etc., and used as a coating material for building materials, its viscosity exhibits high affinity and adhesion to building materials, and its film-forming properties cover the building materials, improving their strength and enhancing their durability. Although lignin is originally insoluble in water, the hydroxyl groups of the alkali silicate aqueous solution and / or metallic silicon hydrated solution and / or silanol solution B0 having a siloxane skeleton decompose the lignin polymer into lignin monomers, modifying the lignin and generating alkali silicate, lignophenol and / or alkali lignin B1, which is lignin eluted into the alkali silicate aqueous solution and / or metallic silicon hydrated solution and / or silanol solution B0 having a siloxane skeleton.

[0027] In a second embodiment of the plant-derived composition of the present invention, either the first plant material P1 or the first binder component B1 is used as the main component, and the other as a minor component. Particularly, it is preferable to use the liquid first binder component B1 as the main component and the first plant material P1 as a minor component. In this case, the ratio range of the first binder component B1 to the first plant material P1 is 2 to 1000:1. The plant-derived composition with the first binder component B1 as the main component is easily compatible with other materials and can be expected to be applied to a variety of uses.

[0028] In a third aspect of the plant-derived composition of the present invention, in addition to the first plant material P1 and the first binder component B1, a grass plant as plant P0 is further included. The addition of grass plants and / or trees further increases the viscosity of the plant-derived composition, improving its adhesion to building materials, for example, when incorporated into paints. The grass plants and trees can be one or more of the listed ones.

[0029] In a fourth aspect of the plant-derived composition of the present invention, in addition to the first plant material P1 and the first binder component B1, the composition contains at least a second plant material P2 obtained by partially removing furfural (C5H4O2) F from the first plant material P1, and a second binder component B2 mainly composed of silicate lignin or alkaline lignin. The second plant material P2 is an ultraporous cellulose material in which the hemicellulose in the first plant material P1 is at least partially decomposed and removed, resulting in even greater porosity than the first plant material P1. The silicate lignin, which is the main component of the second binder component B2, is a component in which silicic acid in the first binder component B1 and lignin L extracted from plant P0 are at least partially chemically bonded, and is a composite of an inorganic polymer and an organic polymer. Specifically, it is a composite formed by a condensation reaction between the phenolic hydroxyl group of lignin and the silanol group (Si-OH) of silicic acid, resulting in Si-OC bonds. It is also referred to as lignin-silica hybrid or silylated lignin. Silicate lignin has conventionally been used as an adsorbent, soil conditioner, and biomass, but in the present invention, it has been found as an adhesive composition, coating composition, non-combustible composition, and heat insulating composition. Alkali lignin has a structure in which the alkaline component in the first binder component B1 and lignin L are at least partially chemically bonded. Both silicate lignin and alkaline lignin have adhesive and non-combustible properties.

[0030] In a fifth aspect of the plant-derived composition of the present invention, one or more of the following are further included: plant carbonized material P0C, first plant material carbonized material P1C, and second plant material carbonized material P2C (collectively referred to as "carbonized additive BC"), which are obtained by carbonizing plant P0, first plant material P1, and second plant material P2, respectively. That is, in addition to the first plant material P1 and first binder component B1, at least one or more of plant carbonized material P0C, first plant material carbonized material P1C, and second plant material carbonized material P2C may be included. Alternatively, in addition to the first plant material P1 and first binder component B1, which have either one as the main component, at least one or more of plant carbonized material P0C, first plant material carbonized material P1C, and second plant material carbonized material P2C may be included. Furthermore, in addition to the first plant material P1, the first binder component B1, and the plant P0, it may contain at least one or more of the following: plant char P0C, first plant material char P1C, and second plant material char P2C. Furthermore, in addition to the first plant material P1, the first binder component B1, the second plant material P2, and the second binder component B2, it may contain at least one or more of the following: plant char P0C, first plant material char P1C, and second plant material char P2C.

[0031] The plant-derived composition of the present invention may be included as at least part of a non-flammable and / or flame-retardant composition, a fire-resistant and / or fire-proof composition, a heat-resistant composition, a paint composition, an adhesive composition, or a bioplastic, etc.

[0032] Furthermore, the plant-derived compositions of the present invention can be used in applications such as non-flammable and / or flame-retardant materials, fire-resistant and / or fire-preventive materials, paints, adhesive materials, heat-resistant materials, phenolic resin substitutes, synthetic resin additives, biomass-rubber composite materials, materials that enhance the resistance of plants to diseases and pests, materials that promote plant growth, heavy metal ion sorbent materials, materials that remove pollution from environmental substances, soil conditioners, or natural antioxidants.

[0033] Embodiments of the method for producing the plant-derived composition of the present invention will be described below. All descriptions relating to the embodiments of the plant-derived composition may also be applied to the following production methods.

[0034] In the method for producing the plant-derived composition (first embodiment) of the present invention, first, an aqueous alkali silicate aqueous solution B0 such as sodium silicate aqueous solution (Na2O・nSiO2・xH2O), potassium silicate (K2O・nSiO2・xH2O), or lithium silicate (Li2O・nSiO2・xH2O) is used to partially cleave the β-O-4 bond of the lignin molecule having a complex structure, thereby extracting lignin L at least partially from plant P0 to obtain a first plant material P1 modified from plant P0. The β-O-4 bond is an ether bond between the 4th position of the aromatic nucleus and the β-position of the side chain of another aromatic nucleus in the lignin molecule, and is a bond that polymerizes lignin monomers to form lignin L. The raw material plant P0 can be any of the grasses or trees specifically listed above. Leaves, branches, trunks, bark, stems, pericarp, seeds, and roots of grasses and / or trees can be used without processing, but plant P0 that has been finely crushed, crushed, cut, granulated, or powdered is more preferable.

[0035] Next, lignin L is dissolved in alkali hydroxide B0 from plant P0 before, after, or during extraction. Alkali hydroxide B0 mainly consists of (contains) one or more of the following: hydrated metallic silicon solution, silanol solution having a siloxane skeleton, or alkaline silicate aqueous solution (e.g., sodium silicate aqueous solution, potassium silicate, lithium silicate, etc.), or consists of one or more of these. The silanol solution is obtained by mixing metallic silicon, sodium hydroxide, and water by an exothermic or heating reaction. Dissolution before extraction means dissolving lignin L in the state present in plant P0, and dissolution after extraction means dissolving lignin L after it has been detached from plant P0. The reaction between the phenol group of lignin L and the alkaline silicate aqueous solution B0 yields alkali silicate lignophenol as the first binder component B1. Specifically, the β-O-4 bonds in lignin L are cleaved more extensively than during the lignin extraction, yielding alkali silicate lignophenol B1. Since alkali silicate lignophenol B1 still retains β-O-4 bonds, if the alkali is sodium, it can be represented as Na2SiO3(β-O-4), but due to its complex chemical structure, it is difficult to represent it with a single chemical structural formula. The silica (silicon dioxide SiO2) contained in the alkali silicate aqueous solution B0 is obtained from one or more raw materials (silica sources) selected from minerals such as mica, quartz, silica sand, and siliceous rock; sedimentary rocks such as diatomaceous earth, volcanic ash, and shirasu balloons; clay minerals such as montmorillonite and bentonite; glass from industrial waste; and the aforementioned grasses. The above manufacturing method yields a plant-derived composition according to the first embodiment, containing at least the first plant material P1 and the first binder component B1. The metallic silicon contained in the metallic silicon hydrate solution B0 is produced by reducing silica (SiO2) obtained from the silica source, but the production method can be a conventional method. The alkaline solution used in the production of the alkali silicate aqueous solution and / or the metallic silicon hydrate solution and / or the silanol solution having a siloxane skeleton is selected from sodium hydroxide (NaOH), potassium hydroxide (KOH), and lithium hydroxide (LiOH).

[0036] A plant-derived composition according to the second embodiment is obtained by separating either the first binder component B1 or the first plant material P1 from the other, at least partially, from a plant-derived composition (first embodiment) containing the first plant material P1 and the first binder component B1. Specifically, the plant-derived composition containing the first plant material P1 and the first binder component B1 is allowed to stand for several hours to several days to separate into two fractions. That is, it is separated into the upper layer of the first plant material P1 that remains and is dispersed near the supernatant, and the lower layer of liquid component, the first binder component B1. These are then separated into solid and liquid by filtration or the like, and the two are taken out separately to obtain a plant-derived composition according to the second embodiment. In Example b below, the plant-derived composition according to the second embodiment, in particular, having the first binder component B1 as the main component, is used.

[0037] A highly viscous plant-derived composition according to the third embodiment can be produced by adding one or more of the aforementioned grasses and / or trees (woody plants) as plant P0 to a plant-derived composition (first embodiment) containing a first plant material P1 and a first binder component B1 as a thickening agent.

[0038] In the method for producing a plant-derived composition according to the fourth embodiment, first, the first plant material P1 is partially separated from the plant-derived composition (first embodiment) containing the first plant material P1 and the first binder component B1, for example by filtration, and the first plant material P1 is brought into contact with high-temperature steam. High-temperature steam is high-temperature superheated steam, which is steam exceeding 100°C obtained by further heating steam at 100°C, which is obtained by boiling water under normal pressure. From the separated first plant material P1, furfural (C5H4O2) F and a second plant material P2, which is a modified version of the first plant material P1, are obtained by high-temperature steam treatment. Furfural F is an aldehyde compound produced by heating the hemicellulose in the first plant material P1, and is obtained by hydrolysis of the hemicellulose. The second plant material P2 is a superporous cellulose material with even greater porosity than the first plant material P1. Alternatively, without using high-temperature steam (high-temperature superheated steam), furfural F and the second plant material P2 can be obtained from the first plant material P1 by hydrothermal treatment in an autoclave under high pressure and high temperature.

[0039] By mixing the obtained furfural F and second plant material P2 with the first plant material P1 and first binder component B1, furfural F and the first binder component B1, whose main component is alkali lignophenol silicate and / or alkali lignin, react at least partially to obtain a second binder component B2 whose main component is lignin silicate or alkali lignin. This produces a plant-derived composition according to the fourth embodiment that contains at least the first plant material P1, the first binder component B1, the second plant material P2, and the second binder component B2.

[0040] In the method for producing a plant-derived composition according to the fifth embodiment, first, one or more of plant P0, first plant material P1, and second plant material P2 are subjected to carbonization treatment to obtain a carbonized additive PC containing one or more of plant carbonized product P0C, first plant material carbonized product P1C, and second plant material carbonized product P2C. For example, the carbonized additive PC can be obtained by a general pyrolysis carbonization (dry distillation) method using a commercially available small carbonization apparatus, but the method of carbonization treatment is not particularly limited. Next, by adding the obtained carbide additive PC to the plant-derived composition of the first, second, third, or fourth embodiment, a plant-derived composition of embodiment 5-1 containing at least a first binder component B1, a first plant material P1, and the carbide additive PC is obtained; or a plant-derived composition of embodiment 5-2 mainly comprising the first plant material P1 or the first binder component B1 and containing the carbide additive PC; or a plant-derived composition of embodiment 5-3 containing at least a first binder component B1, a first plant material P1, a plant P0, and the carbide additive PC; or a plant-derived composition of embodiment 5-4 containing at least a first plant material P1, a first binder component B1, a second plant material P2, a second binder component B2, and the carbide additive PC. The carbide additive PC functions as a non-combustible material and a hardening material.

[0041] As a method for producing a plant-derived composition containing the carbide additive PC, in addition to the method of adding the carbide additive PC that has been pre-carbonized as described above, the plant P0, the first plant material P1, and / or the second plant material P2 may be burned in the plant-derived composition before carbonization to form the carbide additive PC.

[0042] Furthermore, embodiments of the present invention may include the following: [1] A plant-derived composition (sixth aspect) characterized by comprising a plant-derived material containing silica, a mixture of minerals containing sodium carbonate, sodium oxide, and sodium hydroxide, and water. [2] The composition according to [1] (seventh aspect) wherein the mixture of minerals further comprises potassium carbonate. [3] The composition according to [1] (eighth aspect) further comprises carbon. [4] The composition according to [1] wherein the plant-derived material comprises a material obtained from a grass plant. [5] The composition according to [1] wherein the plant-derived material comprises a material obtained from hemp. [6] The composition according to [1] wherein the plant-derived material comprises about 10% to about 50% by weight of a plant-derived material, a mixture of minerals up to about 10% by weight, and water. [7] The composition according to [1] wherein the mixture of minerals comprises about 10% to about 50% by weight of sodium carbonate, about 5% to about 30% by weight of sodium oxide, and about 5% to about 30% by weight of sodium hydroxide. [8] The composition according to [2], wherein the mineral mixture comprises about 10% to about 50% by weight of sodium carbonate, about 5% to about 30% by weight of sodium oxide, about 5% to about 15% by weight of sodium hydroxide, and up to about 15% by weight of potassium carbonate. [9] The composition according to [1], comprising essentially a plant-derived mixture, a mineral mixture, and water.

[10] The composition according to [1], comprising a plant-derived mixture, a mineral mixture, and water.

[11] The composition according to [1], comprising a first fraction and a second fraction.

[12] The composition according to [1], wherein the first fraction comprises a liquid, and the second fraction comprises a solid and a liquid.

[13] The composition according to [1], wherein the first fraction comprises an adhesive material and / or a refractory material, and the second fraction comprises a refractory building material.

[14] An adhesive composition characterized by comprising a liquid obtained by mixing a plant-derived material containing silica with water and a mixture of minerals containing sodium carbonate, sodium oxide, and sodium hydroxide.

[15] The adhesive composition according to

[14] wherein the plant-derived material containing silica comprises at least one of grasses and hemp.

[16] The adhesive composition according to

[14] wherein the mixture of minerals further comprises potassium carbonate.

[0043] The plant-derived composition of the present disclosure may include a silica (i.e., silicon dioxide or SiO2) source, such as a plant-derived material (plant material) containing silica, and a mixture of minerals. The plant-derived composition may also contain water. The plant-derived material may include plant P0 or a part of plant P0.

[0044] The silica source of the plant-derived composition may include a plant-derived material containing silica. In some embodiments, the plant-derived material may contain a large amount of silica, and this plant-derived material may be referred to as a "silica-rich" plant-derived material. Examples of plants P0 and plant-derived materials containing a large amount of silica include, but are not limited to, gramineous plants and hemp. Gramineous plants are a general term for plants of the Gramineae family, including rice (i.e., plants of the genus Oryza), wheat (i.e., plants of the genus Triticum, such as common wheat (i.e., Triticum aestivum)), oats (i.e., plants of the genus Avena, such as oat (i.e., Avena sativa)), corn (plants of the genus Zea, such as maize (i.e., Zea mays)), bamboo (i.e., plants of the subfamily Bambusoideae), and other gramineous plants. Hemp includes various varieties of Cannabis sativa. The plant-derived material or at least the silica of the plant-derived material may contain 10% to 50% of the weight of the mixture of multiple components used in the production of the plant-derived composition. The silica of the plant-derived material may contain about 10%, about 15%, about 20%, about 25%, about 30%, etc., up to about 35%, about 40%, about 45%, about 50%, etc., of the weight of the plant-derived composition.

[0045] The mixture of minerals contained in the plant-derived composition may include sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) and sodium oxide (N). Furthermore, the mixture of minerals may include sodium hydroxide (NaOH) (Aspect 6). The mixture of minerals may also optionally include potassium carbonate (K2CO3) (Aspect 7). Any potassium carbonate can prevent the plant-derived composition and / or the product coated with the plant-derived composition from fading or discoloring when exposed to ultraviolet light (such as sunlight, etc.). Sodium carbonate may be included at about 10% to about 50% of the weight of the mixture of minerals (such as about 10%, about 15%, about 20%, about 25%, about 30%, about 35%, about 40%, about 45%, about 50%, a range defined by any two of these numerical values, etc.). Sodium oxide may be about 10% to about 30% of the weight of the mixture of minerals (such as about 10%, about 15%, about 20%, about 25%, about 30%, a range defined by any two of these numerical values, etc.). Sodium hydroxide may be included at up to about 30% of the weight of the mixture of minerals (such as about 0%, about 5%, about 10%, about 15%, about 20%, about 25%, about 30%, a range defined by any two of these numerical values, etc.). Any potassium carbonate may be included at up to about 15% of the weight of the mixture of minerals (such as about 0%, about 5%, about 10%, about 15%, a range defined by any two of these numerical values, etc.).

[0046] The plant-derived composition may optionally contain carbon (Aspect 8). Carbon can enhance the fire resistance of the plant-derived composition. Carbon can affect the consistency of the plant-derived composition. As an example, carbon may constitute about 15% of the weight of the plant-derived composition (a range defined by about 0%, about 5%, about 10%, about 15%, any two of these numerical values, etc.). In an embodiment, carbon may have an average particle size of about 100 μm or less (such as about 50 μm to about 60 μm, etc.).

[0047] Embodiments of the plant-derived composition consisting of a liquid may have adhesiveness, as well as fire resistance, antioxidant properties (such as rust prevention, etc.), antibacterial properties, etc. Embodiments of the plant-derived composition containing solids from plant-derived materials moistened with a liquid may be formed into solid structures (such as sheets, panels, bricks, etc.) having fire resistance, antioxidant properties, antibacterial properties, etc.

[0048] A method for producing a plant-derived composition may involve adding multiple components of the plant-derived composition together. In this case, the components may also include a silica source, such as a plant-derived material, a mixture of minerals (e.g., sodium carbonate, sodium oxide, sodium hydroxide, and optionally potassium carbonate, etc.), and any carbon.

[0049] In embodiments, multiple components may be mixed together. Mixing multiple components means making them substantially homogenized or homogenized. Multiple components may be mixed using a processing machine with sharp blades (e.g., a food processor) at a rotation speed of approximately 3000 revolutions per minute or more, but are not limited to this. Once multiple components are mixed, fractions of the mixture (e.g., solids, liquids, etc.) may separate from each other. In embodiments, the fractions may be separated by gravity. For example, the mixture may be left to stand for a sufficient amount of time (e.g., several minutes, several hours, etc.) for the fractions to substantially separate from each other. Liquids (e.g., added water, moisture from plant-derived materials, etc.) may remain at the bottom of the mixture's volume, while low-density solids from plant-derived materials may rise.

[0050] In other embodiments, after combining the components, the container may be filled (for example, by weight or pressure) and left to stand for a sufficient amount of time (e.g., about 7 to 10 days) for the silica to be extracted from the plant-derived material and to combine with the other components of the plant-derived composition (e.g., by diffusion). Once sufficient time has elapsed for the silica to be extracted from the plant-derived material and mixed with the other components, the fractions of the plant-derived composition can be separated from each other. For example, the solid can be removed from the liquid, and optionally the liquid can be filtered to further remove the solid.

[0051] In yet another embodiment, a plant-derived composition may be formed using a cold pressing or cold extraction method. In this method, the multiple components may be mixed and then pressed under a hydraulic press. The product is then centrifuged to separate it into multiple fractions (e.g., liquid fraction, solid fraction, etc.).

[0052] Liquids can be stored, packaged, and used as adhesives for various purposes, including fireproofing, antioxidant coatings, and antimicrobial coatings for manufactured products. Solids can be formed into one or more desired shapes, or they can be ground into particles (e.g., powder) before they are completely dry, and then reformed with water to form desired shapes.

[0053] Other aspects of the disclosed gist, as well as the features and advantages of various aspects of the disclosed gist, will be apparent to those skilled in the art in consideration of the above detailed description and the appended claims.

[0054] The following describes in detail, with reference to Figures 1 to 8, the test methods and results for Examples a to d of the plant-derived composition and its manufacturing method according to the present invention.

[0055] [Production of the plant-derived composition of Example a (First Embodiment)] 700 g of water and 100 g of caustic soda (NaOH) were stirred in a beaker for about 1 minute, then transferred to a commercially available stainless steel pressure cooker, 200 g of metallic silicon powder (Kinsei Matec Co., Ltd.) was added, the lid was closed and heated over medium heat. After steam was generated, the mixture was pressurized over low heat for about 30 minutes, then the heating was stopped and the pressure inside the pot was reduced to atmospheric pressure for about 30 minutes to obtain an aqueous sodium silicate solution (alkaline silicate aqueous solution) B0. The aqueous sodium silicate solution was measured using the Iwata Cup method and the result was about 12 seconds. The Iwata Cup method is a simple liquid viscosity measurement method that uses a viscosity cup (Anest Iwata Corporation NK-2) to estimate the liquid viscosity in the following way: 1) Immerse the viscosity cup in a well-stirred liquid, 2) Lift the viscosity cup out of the liquid, 3) As soon as the liquid falls from the hole at the bottom, 4) Start measuring with a stopwatch, and 5) Measure the time (seconds) until the liquid outflow stops. The longer the measurement time, the higher the viscosity.

[0056] Approximately 50 g of bamboo powder (plant) P0 was added to 250 g of the obtained sodium silicate aqueous solution B0, and the mixture was kneaded for approximately 3 minutes at room temperature (approximately 20°C) using a commercially available kitchen hand mixer (500 rpm) to obtain a bamboo powder kneaded solution. The measurement using the Iwata Cup method was approximately 18 seconds. The bamboo powder kneaded solution was then allowed to stand overnight, and the organic matter (lignin) L in the bamboo powder P0 was extracted, causing the liquid to change from yellow to brown, and a plant-derived composition containing bamboo powder (first plant material) P1 and a first binder component B1 mainly composed of alkali silicate and lignophenol was obtained (Example a). The measurement using the Iwata Cup method was approximately 30 seconds.

[0057] [Production of the plant-derived composition of Example b (second embodiment)] The plant-derived composition obtained in Example a was subjected to solid-liquid separation by filtration into a bamboo powder portion P1 at the liquid surface of the beaker and a translucent solution portion, thereby obtaining a plant-derived composition mainly composed of the first binder component B1 of the solution portion (Example b).

[0058] [Production of the plant-derived composition of Example c (third embodiment)] 300 g of the plant-derived composition obtained in Example a was mixed with an additional 50 g of bamboo powder P0 as a thickening agent to confirm the thickening effect, and kneaded at room temperature (approximately 20°C) for approximately 3 minutes using a commercially available kneader to obtain a highly viscous plant-derived composition (Example c).

[0059] [Production of the plant-derived composition of Example d (Aspect 5-1 above)] In a stainless steel pressure vessel (Shin-Nippon Denetsu Kogyo Co., Ltd., 6000L), 7 kg of water and 1 kg of caustic soda were stirred for about 10 minutes, and then added to 2 kg of mica powder. The lid of the pressure vessel was closed and heated at about 100°C and about 10 atmospheres for about 60 minutes. After stopping the heating, the pressure inside the vessel was reduced to atmospheric pressure after about 60 minutes to obtain an aqueous sodium silicate solution (alkaline silicate solution) B0. The measurement time by the Iwata Cup method was about 12 seconds.

[0060] Approximately 3 kg of cedar powder (plant) P0 was added to approximately 10 kg of sodium silicate aqueous solution B0, and the mixture was kneaded with a stirrer (1000 rpm) at room temperature (approximately 20°C) for approximately 3 minutes to obtain a cedar powder mixture solution. The measurement time using the Iwata Cup method was approximately 25 seconds. The cedar powder mixture solution was allowed to stand overnight, and organic matter (lignin) L in the cedar powder P0 was extracted, causing the liquid to change from yellow to brown. The measurement time using the Iwata Cup method was approximately 30 seconds. Furthermore, approximately 2 kg of pre-carbonized bamboo charcoal powder (plant carbonized material) P0C was added as a viscosity modifier, and the mixture was kneaded with a mixing mixer (1500 rpm) at room temperature (approximately 20°C) for approximately 3 minutes to obtain a black plant-derived composition containing the first plant material P1, the first binder component B1 whose main components are alkali silicate and lignophenol, and the cedar powder P0 (Example d). Measurements using the Iwata Cup method show a viscosity of approximately 40 seconds, indicating high viscosity.

[0061] [Test 1: Adhesion Strength Test] 20 g of the plant-derived composition of Example a was applied to each bonding surface of two boards (10 cm × 10 cm × 1 cm), the bonding surfaces of the two boards were joined together, and left at room temperature (approximately 20°C) for about 12 hours to prepare the test boards of Example a. Each edge of the two test boards was gripped with the sample chuck of a small material testing machine (Imoto Seisakusho Co., Ltd. 90FD), and the adhesion strength was measured at a tensile speed of 1 mm / min.

[0062] [Test 2: Combustion Test with Hand Burner] Approximately 80 g of the plant-derived composition of Example a was applied to one side of a plywood sheet (20 cm x 20 cm x 10 mm thick) to a thickness of 100 μm, and left for approximately 12 hours to prepare the test plywood of Example a. A test plywood of Example b was prepared in the same manner as in Example a. The surfaces of the test plywood sheets of Examples a and b were burned at approximately 800°C for 5 minutes using a commercially available hand burner to conduct a combustion test.

[0063] [Test 3: Thermal Insulation Test] Test plywoods of Examples a and b were further prepared using the method of Test 2. A 40W infrared lamp was placed on the coated side of the test plywood and illuminated, and the temperature of the coated side and the opposite side of the plywood was measured. Thermal insulation tests were then performed on each of the test plywoods of Examples a and b.

[0064] [Test 4: Combustion Experiment in a Furnace] The plant-derived composition of Example c was coated onto a steel material measuring 150 mm in length, 30 mm in width, and 5 mm in thickness to a thickness of 30 mm, and dried to prepare a refractory test specimen for the combustion experiment. A thermocouple thermometer was attached to the steel material itself (inside the coating) of the refractory test specimen. The refractory test specimen was placed in an electric furnace (furnace) rated for 1200°C, and a combustion experiment was conducted.

[0065] [Test 5: Fire Resistance Test] The plant-derived composition (coating material) 100 of Example d was applied to the surface of a general structural square steel pipe 30 specified by the Japan Building Research Institute using a commercially available spraying device so that the film thickness when dry was approximately 20 mm, and this was repeated to obtain the square steel pipe test specimen T shown in Figures 1 and 2. Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view along the line A-A (upper position) in Figure 1. Thermocouple under-coating thermometers 1 to 8 were attached at the positions marked with × in Figure 2 between the coating material 100 and the square steel pipe 30. The cross-sectional view along the line B-B (middle position) in Figure 1 (not shown) is substantially the same as the cross-sectional view along line A-A (Figure 2), except that under-coating thermometers 9 to 16 were attached at the corresponding positions of reference numerals 1 to 8. The cross-sectional view (not shown) along line C-C (lower position) in Figure 1 is also substantially identical to the cross-sectional view along line A-A (Figure 2), except that thermometers 17-24 are attached to the underside of the covering material at the corresponding positions of reference numerals 1-8.

[0066] As shown in the photograph in Figure 3, a rectangular steel pipe test specimen T was installed inside the column furnace, and a fire resistance performance test was conducted according to ISO 834. As shown in Figure 3, four metal pipes with flame nozzles at their ends protruded from each side wall, and although not visible in Figure 3, four similar metal pipes also protruded from the front door wall and the back wall. Flames were sprayed from 16 nozzles on all four sides toward the rectangular steel pipe test specimen T, and the surface temperature (temperature under the coating) of the rectangular steel pipe 30 coated with plant-derived composition 100 was measured by under-coating thermometers 1 to 24. In addition, thermocouple column furnace thermometers were installed at the tips of all 16 metal pipes, and the ambient temperature (column furnace temperature) of the rectangular steel pipe test specimen T was also measured simultaneously.

[0067] [Test Results and Discussion] Table 1 shows the raw materials, components, and results of Tests 1 to 5 for Examples a to d.

[0068]

[0069] As shown in Table 1, the plant-derived composition of Example a showed an adhesion strength of 9.8 kgf / cm² in Test 1 (adhesion strength test). 2 This value represents the adhesion strength of 3-5 kgf / cm² under standard conditions as specified in JIS A 6909 (thin-layer finishing coatings) and JIS A 6910 (multi-layer finishing coatings) as JIS standards for interior materials. 2 This significantly exceeded the previous result, confirming that Example a possesses sufficient adhesive and bonding strength.

[0070] In the plant-derived compositions of Examples a and b, the results of Test 2 (combustion test using a hand burner) showed that a small amount of smoke was emitted from the test plywood where the flame of the hand burner was applied, but as shown in Table 1, it did not ignite, and only the area where the flame was applied was carbonized. Therefore, it was confirmed that Examples a and b are non-combustible and fire-resistant.

[0071] Table 2 shows the results of Test 3 (thermal insulation experiment) for Examples a and b.

[0072]

[0073] Table 2, which shows the results of Test 3, indicates that the temperature difference between the coated side and the plywood side after 30 minutes was 6.6°C in Example a, confirming high thermal insulation performance. Furthermore, in Example b, the temperature difference was 11°C, confirming extremely high thermal insulation performance.

[0074] The results of Test 4 (combustion experiment using a kiln) are shown in Table 3 and Figure 4. Table 3 shows the time measured from the start of the experiment at 15:40 to the end at 17:29, the internal temperature of the kiln (°C), the temperature of the steel material (refractory test specimen) measured by a thermocouple (°C), and the temperature difference between them (°C). The graph of the combustion experiment using a kiln in Figure 4 shows the relationship between the time [hours:minutes] from 15:48 to 16:49, eight minutes after the start of the experiment, and the temperature of the kiln (upper plot) and the temperature of the steel material (lower plot) [°C].

[0075]

[0076] Table 3 and Figure 4, showing the results of Test 4 (combustion experiment using a kiln), indicate that when the kiln temperature was 800°C, the refractory specimen was at 105.2°C, with a temperature difference of 694.8°C. Furthermore, when the kiln temperature was 1000°C, the refractory specimen was at 125.5°C, with a temperature difference of 874.5°C. This combustion experiment confirmed that the plant-derived composition of Example c, coated with steel, exhibits excellent non-combustibility, heat insulation, and fire resistance.

[0077] Figures 5 to 8 show the results of Test 5 (fire resistance performance test) conducted at the Japan Building Research Institute. The graph in Figure 5 shows the change in column furnace temperature (°C) (vertical axis) measured by 16 column furnace thermometers against elapsed time (minutes) (horizontal axis). The graphs in Figures 6 to 8 show the surface temperature (temperature under the covering material) (°C) (vertical axis) of the square steel pipe 30 covered with plant-derived composition (Example d) 100, measured by under-covering thermometers 1 to 24 against elapsed time (minutes) (horizontal axis). Specifically, Figure 6 shows the results measured by under-covering thermometers 1 to 8 at the top, Figure 7 shows the results measured by under-covering thermometers 9 to 16 at the middle, and Figure 8 shows the results measured by under-covering thermometers 17 to 24 at the bottom.

[0078] As shown in Figure 5, the temperature inside the column furnace exceeded 800°C after 30 minutes, but as shown in Figures 6 to 8, the temperature under the covering material was approximately 100°C. Also, as shown in Figure 5, the temperature inside the column furnace rose to around 1000°C after 60 minutes (just before the flame injection stopped), but as shown in Figures 6 to 8, the temperature under the covering material was approximately 120 to 160°C. Furthermore, as shown in Figures 6 to 8, the temperature under the covering material continued to rise after the flame injection stopped until 150 minutes from the start, but the maximum temperature was 368°C. Therefore, the square steel pipe 30 coated with the plant-derived composition 100 of Example d did not soften during a fire, and if it was used as structural steel, there would be no risk of the building collapsing. The results of this fire resistance performance test confirmed the excellent fire resistance performance of Example d. Furthermore, the square steel pipe 30 coated with the plant-derived composition 100 of Example d was certified by the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism as conforming to Article 2, Item 7 of the Building Standards Act and Article 107, Paragraph 1 of the Enforcement Order of the Building Standards Act (columns: 1 hour), based on the provisions of Article 68-25, Paragraph 1 of the same Act (including cases where it is applied mutatis mutandis in Article 88, Paragraph 1 of the same Act) (certification number: FP060CN-1008).

[0079] [Conclusion] From the results of Test 1 (Adhesion Strength Test), it was confirmed that the plant-derived composition of Example a exceeded the standard adhesion strength of the JIS standard and possessed sufficient adhesion and bonding strength. From the results of Test 2 (Combustion Test using a Hand Burner), it was confirmed that the plant-derived compositions of Examples a and b did not ignite and possessed non-combustibility. From the results of Test 3 (Thermal Insulation Test), it was confirmed that the plant-derived composition of Example a had high thermal insulation performance, and the plant-derived composition of Example b had extremely high thermal insulation performance. From the results of Test 4 (Combustion Experiment using a Kiln), it was confirmed that the plant-derived composition of Example c had excellent non-combustibility, thermal insulation, and fire resistance. From the results of Test 5 (Fire Resistance Test), it was confirmed that the plant-derived composition of Example d, which coated the square steel pipe 30, exhibited excellent fire resistance. Therefore, the plant-derived compositions according to the present invention not only use almost entirely natural ingredients, are environmentally friendly and non-toxic to the human body, but from the results of Tests 1 to 5 above, it was confirmed that they also possess excellent adhesion strength, non-combustibility, thermal insulation, and fire resistance. In other words, the results indicated that the plant-derived composition according to the present invention is desirable for practical application and mass production.

[0080] The plant-derived composition and method for producing the same according to the present invention can be used in the following technical fields: non-combustible materials, flame-retardant materials, fire-resistant materials, fireproof materials, paints, adhesive materials, heat-resistant materials, phenolic resin substitutes, synthetic resin additives, biomass-rubber composite materials, materials that enhance the resistance of plants to diseases and pests, materials that promote plant growth, heavy metal ion sorption materials, materials that remove pollution from environmental substances, soil conditioners, natural antioxidants, and the like.

[0081] B0...Alkali hydroxide, B1...First binder component, B2...Second binder component, F...Furfural, L...Lignin, P0...Plant, P1...First plant material, P2...Second plant material, PC...Carbide additive, P0C...Plant carbide, P1C...First plant material carbide, T...Square steel pipe test specimen, 1-24...Thermometer under coating material, 30...Square steel pipe, 100...Plant-derived composition (coating material),

Claims

A method for producing a plant-derived composition containing at least a binder component and a plant material, A step of obtaining a first plant material by modifying a plant by using an alkaline hydroxide mainly composed of an alkaline silicate aqueous solution and / or a hydrated metallic silicon solution and / or a siloxane skeleton, to extract lignin from the plant at least partially, A method for producing a plant-derived composition, characterized by comprising the step of dissolving lignin in an alkaline hydroxide to obtain a first binder component. 　 A method for producing a plant-derived composition according to claim 1, wherein in the step of obtaining the first binder component, lignin extracted from the plant is dissolved with an alkaline hydroxide. 　 A method for producing a plant-derived composition according to claim 1, wherein in the step of obtaining a first binder component, the phenol group of lignin is reacted with an alkaline hydroxide to obtain alkali lignophenol silicate and / or alkaline lignin as the first binder component. 　 A method for producing a plant-derived composition according to claim 1, further comprising the step of separating at least partially one of the first binder component or the first plant material from the other. A method for producing a plant-derived composition according to claim 1, wherein the plant is a grass, and is selected from one or more of the following: wheat, barley, oat, rye, adlay, millet, foxtail millet, barnyard millet, rice, corn, sorghum, sugarcane, bamboo, Japanese pampas grass, wild rice, reed, Japanese pampas grass, dwarf bamboo, golden bamboo, white reed, turfgrass, and pampas grass. 　 The plants are trees, including Japanese cypress, sawara cypress, Japanese cypress, Japanese hinoki cypress, Japanese red pine, Japanese black pine, Japanese white pine, fir, Himalayan cedar, Japanese cedar, hemlock, Yezo spruce, Sakhalin fir, Japanese larch, ginkgo, metasequoia, camphor tree, Machilus thunbergii, Japanese spicebush, Japanese laurel, Japanese evergreen oak, Japanese white oak, Japanese evergreen oak, Japanese chinquapin, Japanese chinquapin, Japanese camellia, and holly. A method for producing a plant-derived composition according to claim 1, wherein the plant-derived material is selected from one or more of the following: Ternstroemia gymnanthera, Cleyera japonica, Osmanthus fragrans, Weeping willow, White birch, Alnus japonica, Beech, Quercus acutissima, Quercus variabilis, Quercus dentata, Quercus crispula, Quercus serrata, Zelkova serrata, Magnolia obovata, Magnolia kobus, Prunus mume, Plane tree, Japanese maple, Cornus controversa, Cornus kousa, and Diospyros kaki. 　 A method for producing a plant-derived composition according to claim 1, wherein the silica, which is one of the raw materials for the alkaline silicate aqueous solution, is selected from one or more sources from minerals, sedimentary rocks, clay minerals, and grasses. 　 A method for producing a plant-derived composition according to claim 1, further comprising the step of adding a grass plant as a plant. 　 A step of obtaining a second plant material by modifying the first plant material by extracting furfural at least partially from the first plant material using high-temperature steam, A method for producing a plant-derived composition according to claim 1, further comprising the step of reacting extracted furfural with a first binder component to obtain a second binder component. 　 A step of carbonizing plants and / or first plant material to obtain a carbonized additive containing plant carbonized material and / or first plant material carbonized material, A method for producing a plant-derived composition according to claim 1, further comprising the step of adding a carbide additive to at least a first binder component and a first plant material. 　 A plant-derived composition characterized by containing a first plant material as a porous insulating material from which lignin has been at least partially removed from the plant, and a first binder component mainly composed of alkali silicate, lignophenol, or alkali lignin. 　 The plant-derived composition according to claim 11, wherein either the first plant material or the first binder component is the main component. The plant-derived composition according to claim 11, further containing a grass plant as a plant. 　 A second plant material from which furfural has been at least partially removed from the first plant material, The plant-derived composition according to claim 11, further comprising a second binder component mainly composed of silicate lignin or alkaline lignin. 　 The plant-derived composition according to claim 11, further comprising a plant carbonized product and / or a first plant material carbonized product, wherein a plant and / or a first plant material is carbonized. 　 The plant-derived composition according to claim 11, which is contained as at least a part of a non-combustible composition, flame-retardant composition, fire-resistant composition, fire-proof composition, heat-resistant composition, paint composition, adhesive composition, or bioplastic. 　 The plant-derived composition according to claim 11, which can be used in applications such as non-combustible materials, flame-retardant materials, fire-resistant materials, fireproof materials, paints, adhesive materials, heat-resistant materials, phenolic resin substitutes, synthetic resin additives, biomass-rubber composite materials, materials that enhance the resistance of plants to diseases and pests, plant growth promoting materials, heavy metal ion sorbent materials, materials that remove pollution from environmental substances, soil conditioners, or natural antioxidants.

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