Lignin is mixed into thermoplast as organic particulate filler

which resolves the tough problems of resource utilization of black liquor from paper industry

growing tension of petroleum feedstock and increasing environmental pollution. The compatibility between lignin and thermoplast is directly related to application and development of lignin in the plastics industry. This paper begins with an overview of the structure and properties of lignin and performance analysis of lignin/thermoplastic composites

and then elaborates the methods and principles of interfacial compatibilization between lignin and thermoplast. The methods of compatibilization are divided into adding compatibilizer

modifying lignin and modifying thermoplastics

and the three methods are compared and analyzed. The methods of adding compatibilizer and modifying thermoplastics are more commonly used than the modifying lignin for interfacial compatibilizing of the composites. Esterified lignin has better compatibilization than alkylated lignin. Then alternate and compounded use of the compatibilizing methods for lignin-based composites are reviewed. Finally

future research directions and ideas of compatibilization in lignin/thermoplastic composites are discussed.