Biorefinery review: Wide-reaching products through kraft lignin

This review details the structure of lignin and curates information on the characteristics that this polymer must have for each specific use. Lignin is a by-product of the pulp and paper industry and the second most abundant biopolymer after cellulose. Approximately 50 million tons of lignin are pro...

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Main Authors: Iara F. Demuner, Jorge Luiz Colodette, Antonio J. Demuner, Carolina M. Jardim
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: North Carolina State University 2019-06-01
Series:BioResources
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Online Access:https://bioresources.cnr.ncsu.edu/resources/biorefinery-review-wide-reaching-products-through-kraft-lignin/
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author Iara F. Demuner
Jorge Luiz Colodette
Antonio J. Demuner
Carolina M. Jardim
author_facet Iara F. Demuner
Jorge Luiz Colodette
Antonio J. Demuner
Carolina M. Jardim
author_sort Iara F. Demuner
collection DOAJ
description This review details the structure of lignin and curates information on the characteristics that this polymer must have for each specific use. Lignin is a by-product of the pulp and paper industry and the second most abundant biopolymer after cellulose. Approximately 50 million tons of lignin are produced worldwide annually, of which 98% to 99% is incinerated to produce steam, process energy. Just 1% to 2% of the lignin, derived from the sulfite pulp industry, is used in chemical conversion to produce lignosulfonates. Biorefining is a promising approach to promote the wider use of kraft lignin. However, using kraft lignin to produce high value-added products is a great challenge, due to its complex structure, low reactivity, and low solubility, which are factors that limit the lignin’s large-scale use in biorefineries. Recent studies show that kraft lignin can be used as lignosulfonates and dispersants, technical carbons, transportation fuels, bioplastics, and adhesives, but some technological hurdles must be overcome and several industrial tests must be developed to make these uses viable.
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publisher North Carolina State University
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spelling doaj-art-86889141db3f47daa3d33aea99a315fe2025-08-20T03:48:51ZengNorth Carolina State UniversityBioResources1930-21262019-06-011437543758110.15376/biores.14.3.DemunerBiorefinery review: Wide-reaching products through kraft ligninIara F. Demuner0Jorge Luiz Colodette1Antonio J. Demuner2 Carolina M. Jardim3Department of Forestry Engineering, Federal University of Viçosa, Av. P.H. Rolfs, s/n, Campus, 36570-900 Viçosa, Minas Gerais, BrazilDepartment of Forestry Engineering, Federal University of Viçosa, Av. P.H. Rolfs, s/n, Campus, 36570-900 Viçosa, Minas Gerais, BrazilDepartment of Chemistry, Federal University of Viçosa, Av. P.H. Rolfs, s/n, Campus, 36570-900 Viçosa, Minas Gerais, BrazilDepartment of Forestry Engineering, Federal University of Viçosa, Av. P.H. Rolfs, s/n, Campus, 36570-900 Viçosa, Minas Gerais, BrazilThis review details the structure of lignin and curates information on the characteristics that this polymer must have for each specific use. Lignin is a by-product of the pulp and paper industry and the second most abundant biopolymer after cellulose. Approximately 50 million tons of lignin are produced worldwide annually, of which 98% to 99% is incinerated to produce steam, process energy. Just 1% to 2% of the lignin, derived from the sulfite pulp industry, is used in chemical conversion to produce lignosulfonates. Biorefining is a promising approach to promote the wider use of kraft lignin. However, using kraft lignin to produce high value-added products is a great challenge, due to its complex structure, low reactivity, and low solubility, which are factors that limit the lignin’s large-scale use in biorefineries. Recent studies show that kraft lignin can be used as lignosulfonates and dispersants, technical carbons, transportation fuels, bioplastics, and adhesives, but some technological hurdles must be overcome and several industrial tests must be developed to make these uses viable.https://bioresources.cnr.ncsu.edu/resources/biorefinery-review-wide-reaching-products-through-kraft-lignin/ligninbiorefinerykraftchemical modificationapplications
spellingShingle Iara F. Demuner
Jorge Luiz Colodette
Antonio J. Demuner
Carolina M. Jardim
Biorefinery review: Wide-reaching products through kraft lignin
BioResources
lignin
biorefinery
kraft
chemical modification
applications
title Biorefinery review: Wide-reaching products through kraft lignin
title_full Biorefinery review: Wide-reaching products through kraft lignin
title_fullStr Biorefinery review: Wide-reaching products through kraft lignin
title_full_unstemmed Biorefinery review: Wide-reaching products through kraft lignin
title_short Biorefinery review: Wide-reaching products through kraft lignin
title_sort biorefinery review wide reaching products through kraft lignin
topic lignin
biorefinery
kraft
chemical modification
applications
url https://bioresources.cnr.ncsu.edu/resources/biorefinery-review-wide-reaching-products-through-kraft-lignin/
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