Product design methodology and techno-economic viability for lignin-based biorefineries

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This proposal concerns the development and application of product design methods for the lignin-based biorefinery, and linkage of the outcome from the product design methods, with process design and techno-economics of lignin transformation processes. Large quantities of lignin can be produced by a number of processes based on forest biomass feedstocks, including the conventional kraft and sulphite pulping processes, and also, solvent pulping processes. A break-through in the area of lignin products would help revolutionize the forest sector, but the question is, what products should be produced? A systematic methodology based on evaluating lignin structure and functionality is proposed, which should result in new knowledge that will enable forestry companies to more specifically identify their lignin product-process biorefinery strategies. The design methodologies developed in this project will be demonstrated in a case study context at the West Fraser mill in Hinton Alberta. The short term objectives of the research program include (a) characterize different lignin materials produced from different biomass feedstocks and processes, including solvent pulping (Lignol) and lignin precipitation (FPInnovations), (b) understand how produced lignin and lignin fractions can be processed into different added-value products, and how these products can be delivered into existing value chains, (c) to develop and evaluate the techno-economics of biorefinery strategies including uncertainty, and (d) quantify the significant market and technology uncertainties in different lignin-based biorefinery strategies, and incorporate the uncertainties into product-process design analysis. The longer term objective of the research is to identify viable forest biorefinery strategies which can potentially benefit Canadian forestry companies, whose economic viability is in large part due to lignin-based products. This outcome is in support of Canada's forestry sector generally, and furthermore, the forest-sector communities in Canada's regions so that they may better survive and ultimately prosper through their transformation to the forest biorefinery.