Lignin: green material for sustainable chemistry
Studies show that biomass containing lignin (like wood and straw) is exceptionally suited to the sustainable production of chemicals – especially the so-called bio-aromatics. The LignoValue Pilot Plant is the first and only pilot line of lignin-based bio-aromatics in Europe. This pilot infrastructure is the crucial stepping stone to develop lab-scale experiments towards larger-scale industrial processes, which makes it interesting for any organisation or company that wants to be a part of the circular economy.
Replacing fossil-based aromatics
Lignin is one of the most abundant organic materials on earth. The molecule is created by nature itself and strengthens plants and trees. It’s a by-product of, for example, the current pulp and paper industry. Most of it is currently incinerated and therefore only energetically valorised. As a resource for bio aromatics, lignin has a lot more potential.
At the moment, around 40% of all chemicals are fossil-based aromatics. Thanks to its chemical structure, lignin can replace a lot of these resources. By turning lignin into circular resources and products, the chemical industry becomes less dependent on finite fossil fuels.
Moreover, the lignin-derived bio-aromatics are less toxic than fossil-based building blocks and add various positive qualities to materials, such as stability, anti-bacterial and anti-microbial properties, waterproofing, higher UV protection and thermal resistance.
A new value chain of bio-aromatics
VITO has been a pioneer in the research on lignin as a base for chemicals. Most of the processes for lignin-based bio-aromatics production were already developed and demonstrated at a lab scale. Since 2022, we can also do this at a larger scale at our pilot plant.
The LignoValue Pilot Plant can produce over 100kg of bio-aromatics through a continuous process. The lignin is reduced to smaller chemical building blocks. When there are enough of these, this will create a new value chain of innovative bio-aromatics.
In the LignoValue Pilot Plant, various process conditions can be adjusted and tested. This way, we can produce the right bio-aromatic fractions for market-oriented applications and product developments. The pilot plant is located on a specialised site where safety, resource supply and product disposal are ensured.
Moving towards sustainable chemistry with VITO’s help
VITO likes to help you find a way to make your products or processes fit within the circular and bio-economy. For instance, we founded the Shared Research Center Biorizon with TNO (the Netherlands). Biorizon aims to facilitate the commercial production of bio-aromatics from both sugars and lignin, so it can contribute to chemistry that’s profitable and sustainable.
Do you want to make the move towards a circular economy?
Contact Kelly if you want to know more about the possibilities that lignin-based chemicals hold.
