The Global Market for Lignin 2023-2033

Published February 2023 | 140 pages, 21 tables, 40 figures | Download table of contents

The increasing concerns of environmental pollution and shortage of petroleum resources have fuelled substantial research towards valorization of bio-based polymers. Lignin is the second most abundant renewable biopolymer on Earth and the largest natural source of aromatic monomers. Its industrial use has attracted considerable attention because of its advantages of high carbon content, low cost and bio-renewability. Lignin is an important precursor for sustainable synthesis of chemicals, polymers, and materials to replace or augment current petroleum-based counterparts.

Wood pulping and other biorefinery industries extract more than 50 million tonnes of lignin annually, but only ~2% is recovered for utilization in applications. However, it's use as a ‘green’ feedstock for fuels, chemicals, and materials is growing through the commercialization of extraction technologies coupled with transitioning towards biorefinery processes.

Lignin has mainly been produced as an industrial residue of pulp and paper factories (e.g. a by-product of the Kraft process), and the majority of the several millions tons of lignin produced annually are utilized as a low-cost fuel for power and heat generation. Due to continued greening (i.e. renewable feedstock) of the global economy, new applications are being commercialized. For example, lignin-based renewable functional fillers are used in different rubber applications as a sustainable alternative to carbon black and silica. Recent developments include use of lignin as a carbon additive in li-ion batteries., due to increased demand for sustainable and environmentally friendly energy storage.

The Global Market for Lignin 2023-2033 includes:

Market description and future outlook.
Analysis of processes used to extract and refine lignin
Production capacities of lignin producers.
In depth analysis of biorefinery lignin production.
Markets and applications for lignin. Markets covered include aromatic compounds (e.g. Benzene, toluene and xylene; Vanillin; Phenol and Phenolic resins); Plastics and polymers; Hydrogels; Concrete; Rubber; Bitumen and Asphalt; Biofuels; Energy storage; Binders, emulsifiers and dispersants; Chelating agents; Ceramics; Automotive; Fire retardants; Antioxidants; Lubricants; Dust Control.
Market demand for lignin in metric tonnes, forecast to 2033.
Industry developments 2020-2023.
Profiles of 79 lignin producers. Profiles include company description, products, processes and capacities. Companies profiled include Bloom Biorenewables SA, Clariant, FP Innovations, Klabin SA, Lignin Industries, Lignolix, Inc., Lignopure, Lignovations GmbH, MetGen Oy, Praj Industries Ltd., Spero Renewables, Stora Enso, Sumitomo Bakelite Co. Ltd., UPM, Versalis SpA and RenCom AB.

1 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 10

2 INTRODUCTION 11

2.1 What is lignin? 11
- 2.1.1 Lignin structure 12
2.2 Types of lignin 13
- 2.2.1 Sulfur containing lignin 16
- 2.2.2 Sulfur-free lignin from biorefinery process 16
2.3 Properties 16
2.4 The lignocellulose biorefinery 19
2.5 Markets and applications 19
2.6 Challenges for using lignin 21

3 LIGNIN PRODUCTON PROCESSES 22

3.1 Lignosulphonates 23
3.2 Kraft Lignin 24
- 3.2.1 LignoBoost process 24
- 3.2.2 LignoForce method 25
- 3.2.3 Sequential Liquid Lignin Recovery and Purification 26
- 3.2.4 A-Recovery+ 27
3.3 Soda lignin 28
3.4 Biorefinery lignin 29
- 3.4.1 Commercial and pre-commercial biorefinery lignin production facilities and processes 30
3.5 Organosolv lignins 32
3.6 Hydrolytic lignin 33

4 MARKETS FOR LIGNIN 34

4.1 Market drivers and trends for lignin 34
4.2 Lignin industry developments 2020-2023 35
4.3 Production capacities 38
- 4.3.1 Technical lignin availability (dry ton/y) 38
- 4.3.2 Biomass conversion (Biorefinery) 39
4.4 Estimated consumption of lignin 39
4.5 Prices 41
4.6 Heat and power energy 41
4.7 Pyrolysis and syngas 41
4.8 Aromatic compounds 42
- 4.8.1 Benzene, toluene and xylene 42
- 4.8.2 Phenol and phenolic resins 43
- 4.8.3 Vanillin 44
4.9 Plastics and polymers 44
4.10 Hydrogels 45
4.11 Carbon materials 46
- 4.11.1 Carbon black 46
- 4.11.2 Activated carbons 46
- 4.11.3 Carbon fiber 47
4.12 Concrete 48
4.13 Rubber 49
4.14 Bitumen and Asphalt 49
4.15 Fuels 50
4.16 Energy storage 52
- 4.16.1 Supercapacitors 52
- 4.16.2 Anodes for lithium-ion batteries 53
- 4.16.3 Gel electrolytes for lithium-ion batteries 54
- 4.16.4 Binders for lithium-ion batteries 54
- 4.16.5 Cathodes for lithium-ion batteries 54
- 4.16.6 Sodium-ion batteries 54
4.17 Binders, emulsifiers and dispersants 55
4.18 Chelating agents 57
4.19 Ceramics 57
4.20 Automotive interiors 58
4.21 Fire retardants 58
4.22 Antioxidants 59
4.23 Lubricants 59
4.24 Dust control 59

5 COMPANY PROFILES 61 (79 company profiles)

6 REFERENCES 137

List of Tables

Table 1. Technical lignin types and applications. 14
Table 2. Classification of technical lignins. 16
Table 3. Lignin content of selected biomass. 17
Table 4. Properties of lignins and their applications. 17
Table 5. Example markets and applications for lignin. 20
Table 6. Processes for lignin production. 22
Table 7. Biorefinery feedstocks. 29
Table 8. Comparison of pulping and biorefinery lignins. 29
Table 9. Commercial and pre-commercial biorefinery lignin production facilities and processes 30
Table 10. Market drivers and trends for lignin. 34
Table 11. Lignin industry developments 2020-2023. 35
Table 12. Production capacities of technical lignin producers. 38
Table 13. Production capacities of biorefinery lignin producers. 39
Table 14. Estimated consumption of lignin, 2019-2033 (000 MT). 39
Table 15. Lignin aromatic compound products. 42
Table 16. Prices of benzene, toluene, xylene and their derivatives. 42
Table 17. Lignin products in polymeric materials. 44
Table 18. Application of lignin in plastics and composites. 45
Table 19. Lignin products in fuels. 51
Table 20. Lignin-derived anodes in lithium batteries. 53
Table 21. Application of lignin in binders, emulsifiers and dispersants. 55

List of Figures

Figure 1. High purity lignin. 12
Figure 2. Lignocellulose architecture. 13
Figure 3. Extraction processes to separate lignin from lignocellulosic biomass and corresponding technical lignins. 14
Figure 4. The lignocellulose biorefinery. 19
Figure 5. Lignocellulosic biomasss conversion and products. 20
Figure 6. LignoBoost process. 25
Figure 7. LignoForce system for lignin recovery from black liquor. 26
Figure 8. Sequential liquid-lignin recovery and purification (SLPR) system. 26
Figure 9. A-Recovery+ chemical recovery concept. 28
Figure 10. Schematic of a biorefinery for production of carriers and chemicals. 30
Figure 11. Organosolv lignin. 32
Figure 12. Hydrolytic lignin powder. 33
Figure 13. Estimated consumption of lignin, 2019-2033 (000 MT). 40
Figure 14. Schematic of WISA plywood home. 43
Figure 15. Lignin based activated carbon. 47
Figure 16. Lignin/celluose precursor. 48
Figure 17. Functional rubber filler made from lignin. 49
Figure 18. Road repair utilizing lignin. 50
Figure 19. Prototype of lignin based supercapacitor. 52
Figure 20. ANDRITZ Lignin Recovery process. 64
Figure 21. DAWN Technology Process. 67
Figure 22. BALI™ technology. 70
Figure 23. Pressurized Hot Water Extraction. 73
Figure 24. sunliquid® production process. 77
Figure 25. Domsjö process. 79
Figure 26. TMP-Bio Process. 83
Figure 27. Flow chart of the lignocellulose biorefinery pilot plant in Leuna. 84
Figure 28. AVAPTM process. 89
Figure 29. GreenPower+™ process. 89
Figure 30. Lignin gel. 95
Figure 31. BioFlex process. 98
Figure 32. LX Process. 100
Figure 33. METNIN™ Lignin refining technology. 103
Figure 34. Enfinity cellulosic ethanol technology process. 110
Figure 35: Plantrose process. 115
Figure 36. Hansa lignin. 119
Figure 37. Stora Enso lignin battery materials. 124
Figure 38. Solid Novolac Type lignin modified phenolic resins. 125
Figure 39. UPM biorefinery process. 129
Figure 40. The Proesa® Process. 131
Figure 41. Goldilocks process and applications. 133

The Global Market for Lignin 2023-2033

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Published February 2023 | 140 pages, 21 tables, 40 figures | Download table of contents

1 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 10

2 INTRODUCTION 11

3 LIGNIN PRODUCTON PROCESSES 22

4 MARKETS FOR LIGNIN 34

5 COMPANY PROFILES 61 (79 company profiles)

6 REFERENCES 137

List of Tables

List of Figures

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