2 INDUSTRY NEWS
Domtar starts separating lignin on a commercial scale
N
orth American pulp and paper company Domtar has started a facility for separating
lignin from the process at its pulp mill in Plymouth, North Carolina. First of its kind in the world on a commercial scale, it uses LignoBoost technology developed by Swedish research company Innventia and researchers at Chalmers University of Technology.
The facility – with capacity of
75 tonnes per day – represents the culmination of a research and technology project that Domtar began in 2010. Under the brand name BioChoice, production of the lignin in Plymouth began in February. The lignin is intended to be used for a wide range of industrial applications, for example as a bio-based alternative to oil and other fossil fuels, or as raw
material for other products. “It’s extremely gratifying to see
the technology being installed on a full scale,” says Innventia’s Per Tomani (pictured). “Having worked on this right from the beginning, it’s a very special day when production goes live. Lots of people have been involved in the various R&D activities along the way, and I’m sure they all feel the same way too.”
Research investigates lignin’s potential as bioplastics source
New research is investigating whether organic chemicals derived from lignin, a waste product from the pulp and paper industry, could be used in the manufacture of high performance bioplastics. UK innovation agency, the
Technology Strategy Board, has awarded a grant to a consortium led by Biome Technologies to investigate a bio-based alternative for the oil derived organic chemicals used in the manufacturer of bioplastics. The research will be undertaken
by the group’s bioplastic division Biome Bioplstics, one of the UK’s leading developers of natural plastics, in conjunction with the University of Warwick’s Centre for Biotechnology and Biorefining. Although bioplastics are based on natural materials, some oil- based chemicals are widely used in their manufacture to convey properties including mechanical
May 2013
Biotechnology and Biorefining that is pioneering academic research into lignin-degrading bacteria. Biome is working with the Warwick team to develop methods to control the lignin breakdown process to determine whether these chemicals can be extracted in significant quantities. “The environmental and social
Lignin from the production in Europe of 100 million tonnes of paper products a year could provide a source for other materials
strength, tear resistance and durability. Deriving these chemicals from a plentiful, natural source could significantly reduce costs.
Lignin helps to provide structural support in plants. As a waste product of the pulp and paper industry, it is a potentially abundant feedstock that could
provide the foundation for a new generation of bioplastics. Worldwide consumption of paper has risen by 400 per cent in the past 40 years, and today more than 100 million tonnes of paper and paperboard is produced in Europe alone.
Biome has partnered with the University of Warwick’s Centre for
concerns surrounding the use of fossil fuels and food crops make lignin a compelling target as a source of chemicals,” said Professor Tim Bugg, Director of the Centre. “Often considered a waste product, it may provide a sustainable source of building blocks for aromatic chemicals that can be used in bioplastics.” If the initial feasibility assessment is successful, Biome will explore the possibilities for deriving a wide selection of bio- based aromatic chemicals from lignin, further reducing cost and expanding bioplastic functionality.
Pulp Paper & Logistics
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